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Effect of Sward Height on Rumen Degradation in Merino Grazing Sheep

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 November 2017

A.R. Mantecón ,
M.D. Carro ,
F.J. Giráldez ,
M.J. Ranilla ,
P.R. Revesado  and
J.S. González
A.R. Mantecón
Affiliation:
EAE-CSIC, Aptdo. 788. 24080 LEON, Spain
M.D. Carro
Affiliation:
Departamento de Producción Animal I, Universidad de León, 24007 LEON, Spain
F.J. Giráldez
Affiliation:
Departamento de Producción Animal I, Universidad de León, 24007 LEON, Spain
M.J. Ranilla
Affiliation:
Departamento de Producción Animal I, Universidad de León, 24007 LEON, Spain
P.R. Revesado
Affiliation:
EAE-CSIC, Aptdo. 788. 24080 LEON, Spain
J.S. González
Affiliation:
Departamento de Producción Animal I, Universidad de León, 24007 LEON, Spain
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Extract

It is now well established that the height of the sward grazed by sheep has a large effect on their performance (Hodgson, Mackie and Parker, 1986). However, there is a scarce of information about the rumen fermentation in sheep grazing at different sward heights. The aim of this experiment was to study the effect of sward height (4 vs 6 cm) on the rumen fermentation in Merino sheep which were continuously maintained on the pasture.

The study was carried out on a continuously stocked pasture in August 1992. Twenty mature Merino sheep were used to obtain two different sward heights: 4 cm (low; LSH) and 6 cm (high; HSH). Sward height was measured twice weekly using a swardstick and was controlled by the addition and removal of sheep. Herbage mass was of 633 and 1397 kg of dry matter (DM)/Ha for the LSH and HSH paddocks, respectively.

Type
Ruminant Metabolism
Information
Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Production (1972) , Volume 1993: Winter meeting , March 1993 , pp. 180
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Production 1993

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References

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