Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-fbnjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T17:01:46.813Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The effect of concentrate level on the intakes of silages or hays by ewes in the 1st month of lactation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

R. J. Orr  and
T. T. Treacher
R. J. Orr
Affiliation:
AFRC Institute of Grasslandand Environmental Research, Hurley, Maidenhead SL6 5LR
T. T. Treacher
Affiliation:
AFRC Institute of Grasslandand Environmental Research, Hurley, Maidenhead SL6 5LR
Get access

Abstract

In three experiments, four grass silages and four grass hays were offeredad libitum to a total of 164 Finn Dorset ewes rearing twins in the 1st month of lactation. In addition, one of three constant daily levels (300, 650 or 1000 g fresh weight per ewe) of a barley-based concentrate was offered. In the first experiment, replacement rate of silage with in vitro organic matter digestibility (OMD) of 0·65 was less than for hay (OMD 0·59), at –0·09 v. –0·62 g forage OM per g concentrates OM. Consequently, lamb growth rate was greater and ewe weight loss was less with increased concentrate level for the silage than for the hay. In the second experiment, the replacement rates of three silages (OMD 0·56, 0·60 and 0·67) were not significantly different (mean –0·29) and, once again, increased concentrate level gave significantly better ewe and lamb performance. Finally, the replacement rates for three hays (OMD 0·51, 0·59 and 0·72) were also not significantly different (mean –0·30). Equations are presented to predict the intakes of hays and silages by ewes in early lactation.

Keywords

food intakehaylactationsheepsilage
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 58 , Issue 1 , February 1994 , pp. 109 - 116
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1994

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Baumont, R., Malbert, C. H. and Ruckebusch, Y. 1990. Mechanical stimulation of rumen fill and alimentary behaviour in sheep. Animal Production 50: 123–128.Google Scholar
Bocquier, F., Kann, G. and Thériez, M. 1990. Relationships between secretory patterns of growth hormone, prolactin and body reserves and milk yield in dairy ewes under different photoperiod and feeding conditions. Animal Production 51: 115–125.Google Scholar
Bocquier, F., Thériez, M. and Brelurut, A. 1987. The voluntary hay intake by ewes during the first weeks of lactation. Animal Production 44: 387–394.Google Scholar
Buchanan-Smith, J. G. 1990. An investigation into palatability as a factor responsible for reduced intake of silage by sheep. Animal Production 50: 253–260.Google Scholar
Carro, M. D., Lopez, S., Gonzalez, J. S. and Ovejero, F. J. 1991. The use of the rumen degradation characteristics of hay as predictors of its voluntary intake by sheep. Animal Production 52: 133–139.Google Scholar
Cowan, R. T., Robinson, J. J., McHattie, I. and Pennie, K. 1981. Effects of protein concentration in the diet on milk yield, change in body composition and the efficiency of utilization of body tissue for milk production in ewes. Animal Production 33: 111–120.Google Scholar
Dewar, W. A. and McDonald, P. 1964. Determination of dry matter in silage by distillation with toluene, Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 12: 790–795.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Doney, J. M., Peart, J. N. and Smith, W. F. 1981. The effect of interaction of ewe and lamb genotype on milk production of ewes and on growth of lambs to weaning. Animal Production 33: 137–142.Google Scholar
Foot, J. Z. and Russel, A. J. F. 1979. The relationship in ewes between voluntary food intake during pregnancy and forage intake during lactation and after weaning. Animal Production 28: 25–39.Google Scholar
Gallo, C. B. and Davies, D. A. R. 1988. Rearing twin and triplet lambs on the ewe. Animal Production 47: 111–121.Google Scholar
Gibb, M. J. and Treacher, T. T. 1982. The effect of body condition and nutrition during late pregnancy on the performance of grazing ewes during lactation. Animal Production 34: 123–129.Google Scholar
Gill, M. 1986. Interaction between animal and feed in the control of voluntary intake of conserved forages by ruminants. Proceedings of the Cornell nutrition conference for Feed Manufacturers, pp. 111–116.Google Scholar
Hadjipieris, G. and Holmes, W. 1966. Studies on feed intake and feed utilization by sheep. 1. The voluntary feed intake of dry, pregnant and lactating ewes. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 66: 217–223.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hovell, F. D. DeB., Ngambi, J. W., Barber, W. P. and Kyle, D. J. 1986. The voluntary intake of hay by sheep in relation to its degradability in the rumen as measured in nylon bags. Animal Production 42: 111–118.Google Scholar
Meat and Livestock Commission. 1983. Feeding the ewe. Sheep Improvement Services, Meat and Livestock Commission, Milton Keynes.Google Scholar
Neal, H. D. St C, France, J., Orr, R. J. and Treacher, T. T. 1985. A model to maximize hay intake when formulating rations for pregnant ewes. Animal Production 40: 93–100.Google Scholar
Orr, R. J., Newton, J. E. and Jackson, C. A. 1983. The intake and performance of ewes offered concentrates and grass silage in late pregnancy. Animal Production 36: 21–27.Google Scholar
Orr, R. J. and Treacher, T. T. 1984. The effect of concentrate level on the intake of hays by ewes in late pregnancy. Animal Production 39: 89–98.Google Scholar
Orr, R. J. and Treacher, T. T. 1989. The effect of concentrate level on the intake of grass silages by ewes in late pregnancy. Animal Production 48: 109–120 (see also 55:299 for erratum).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Orr, R. J. and Treacher, T. T. 1990. Intakes of silages, hays and straws by ewes in mid pregnancy. Animal Production 51: 301–310.Google Scholar
Rhind, S. M., Bass, J. and Doney, J. M. 1992. Pattern of milk production of East Friesland and Scottish Blackface ewes and associated blood metabolite and hormone profiles. Animal Production 54: 265–273.Google Scholar
Rook, A. J., Gill, M., Willink, R. D. and Lister, S. J. 1991. Prediction of voluntary intake of grass silages by lactating cows offered concentrates at a flat rate. Animal Production 52: 407–420.Google Scholar
Russel, A. J. F., Doney, J. M. and Gunn, R. G. 1969. Subjective assessment of body fat in live sheep. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 72: 451–454.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thomas, C. and Thomas, P. C. 1985. Factors affecting the nutritive value of grass silages. In Recent advances in animal nutrition – 1985 (ed. Haresign, W. and Cole, D. J. A.), pp. 223–256. Butterworths, London.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Treacher, T. T. 1983. Nutrient requirements for lactation in the ewe. In Sheep production (ed. Haresign, W.), pp. 133–153. Butterworths, London.Google Scholar
Tissier, M., Theriez, M. and Molenat, G. 1977. [Variation in the voluntary feed intake of ewes during late pregnancy and early lactation. Consequences on their performance. II. Maize silage and hay offered ad libitum.] Annales de Zootechnie 26: 149–166.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wilkins, R. J., Hutchinson, K. J., Wilson, R. F. and Harris, C. E. 1971. The voluntary intake of silage by sheep. 1. Interrelationships between silage composition and intake. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 77: 531–537.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wilkinson, J. M. 1990. Silage UK. 6th ed. Chalcombe Publications, Kingston, Canterbury.Google Scholar