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Effect of continuous v. daytime grazing on feed intake and growth of sheep grazing in a semi-arid grassland steppe

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 October 2011

K. Müller ,
L. Lin ,
C. Wang ,
T. Glindemann ,
A. Schiborra ,
P. Schönbach ,
H. Wan ,
U. Dickhoefer  and
A. Susenbeth
K. Müller
Affiliation:
Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Christian-Albrechts-University, 24118 Kiel, Germany
L. Lin
Affiliation:
Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Christian-Albrechts-University, 24118 Kiel, Germany
C. Wang
Affiliation:
Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Christian-Albrechts-University, 24118 Kiel, Germany
T. Glindemann
Affiliation:
Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Christian-Albrechts-University, 24118 Kiel, Germany
A. Schiborra
Affiliation:
Institute of Crop Science and Plant Breeding, Christian-Albrechts-University, 24118 Kiel, Germany
P. Schönbach
Affiliation:
Institute of Crop Science and Plant Breeding, Christian-Albrechts-University, 24118 Kiel, Germany
H. Wan
Affiliation:
Institute of Crop Science and Plant Breeding, Christian-Albrechts-University, 24118 Kiel, Germany
U. Dickhoefer
Affiliation:
Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Christian-Albrechts-University, 24118 Kiel, Germany
A. Susenbeth*
Affiliation:
Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Christian-Albrechts-University, 24118 Kiel, Germany
*
†E-mail: susenbeth@aninut.uni-kiel.de
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Abstract

In the Inner Mongolian steppe, China, sheep generally graze during daytime and are kept in yards overnight. Hence, nutrients are not returned to the grassland, which might reduce its long-term productivity. Furthermore, the restricted grazing time may limit forage intake and thus the performance of sheep. The aim of this study was therefore to evaluate the impact of continuous 24-h grazing (CG) v. the common daytime grazing (DG) on herbage mass (HM), feed quality, feed organic matter intake (OMI) and live weight gain (LWG) of sheep in the Inner Mongolian steppe. Experiments were carried out from July to September, between 2005 and 2007 on two 2-ha plots per grazing treatment. Each month, the external faecal marker titanium dioxide (TiO2) was orally administered to six sheep per plot on 10 consecutive days. Faecal grab samples were obtained from day 6 to 10 and analysed for CP concentrations to estimate digestibility of organic matter (dOM). Faecal TiO2 concentrations were used to determine the total faecal output and hence OMI of sheep. Concomitant to faeces collection, HM and quality, as well as LWG of the animals were measured. HM and herbage quality did not differ between treatments. However, as the season progressed, concentrations of NDF, ADF and ADL increased, whereas HM and CP concentrations declined. HM and herbage quality parameters differed between years according to the annual precipitation. dOM was similar in CG (0.577) and DG (0.572) sheep, but it decreased from July (0.583) to September (0.558) and differed between years. Accordingly, the OMI of sheep was similar for both treatments across the entire grazing season and all study years. Although mean LWG differed between months and years, it was identical in CG (101.5 g/day) and DG sheep (101.8 g/day). Additional time on pasture during night does not increase feed intake or animal performance. Positive effects of a nutrient reflux on grassland productivity and herbage quality when animals remained on the plots overnight were not found, most likely because of the fact that sheep crowded together in one corner of the plots during darkness and faecal and urinary excretions were thus not evenly distributed across the entire pasture. Considering the risk of animal theft as well as the importance of sheep manure as fuel, the common penning of sheep at night seems to be an adequate management practice for pastoralists in the Inner Mongolian steppe.

Keywords

sheeplive weight gainfeed intakegrazingInner Mongolia
Type
Full Paper
Information
animal , Volume 6 , Issue 3: 61th EAAP Annual Meeting, 2010, Heraklion, Greece: 10th International Workshop on Biology of Lactation in Farm Animals (BOLFA) and Session “Evolution of mammary gland and milk secretion: consequences for lactation in farm animals” , 27 January 2012 , pp. 526 - 534
Copyright
Copyright © The Animal Consortium 2011

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