Comparison of the alkane-based herbage intakes and the liveweight gains of young sheep grazing forage oats, dual-purpose wheat or phalaris-based pasture

2015 ◽  
Vol 55 (10) ◽  
pp. 1230 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Dove ◽  
W. M. Kelman
Keyword(s):  
Diet Composition ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Feeding Trial ◽  
Dual Purpose ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Grazing Systems ◽  
Metabolisable Energy ◽  
Long Chain Alcohol ◽  
Long Chain

Two experiments were conducted between 2004 and 2006 near Canberra, Australia, to provide information about herbage intake and liveweight gains of young sheep grazing dual-purpose crop cf. pasture. In an indoor feeding trial (2004–2005), dual-purpose wheat (cv. Mackellar) and oats (cv. Blackbutt) had estimated organic matter (OM) digestibilities of 0.849 ± 0.0070 and 0.847 ± 0.0001, respectively. The indoor trial also provided data for the concentrations and faecal recoveries of the cuticular wax alkane and long-chain alcohol (LCOH) markers used to estimate diet composition and intake in the grazing trial. The faecal recoveries of both alkanes and LCOH were well described by asymptotic regressions. Alkane recovery differed between crops, though not between years. Faecal LCOH recovery did not differ between crops or years. Under grazing conditions in 2004–2005, the OM digestibility (OMD) of crop herbage was 0.825–0.871, significantly higher than the OMD of phalaris-based pasture (0.752–0.758). The estimated OMD of wheat in 2006 (0.792) was lower than in the earlier years. Sheep consumed ~1 kg/day digestible OM intake (DOMI) from crop in 2004–2005. In 2004 this was significantly higher than the DOMI of sheep grazing pasture (0.75 kg/day) whereas in 2005 the DOMI from pasture was slightly (1.15 kg/day) but significantly higher than that from crop (mean 0.97 kg/day). Regardless of the source of herbage consumed, sheep daily liveweight gains were in the range 200–250 g/kg DOMI. Liveweight gains of sheep grazing crop were also predicted from their calculated metabolisable energy intakes and requirements for maintenance and were within 1% of the observed liveweight gains. Our results demonstrate that in high-rainfall areas, the quantity and quality of the herbage provided by sowing dual-purpose crops, and the resultant increased animal liveweight gains, justify the inclusion of dual-purpose crops in grazing systems.

Using dual-purpose crops in sheep-grazing systems

2014 ◽  
Vol 94 (7) ◽  
pp. 1276-1283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hugh Dove ◽  
John Kirkegaard
Keyword(s):  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Dual Purpose ◽  
Grazing Systems

Integrating dual-purpose wheat and canola into high-rainfall livestock systems in south-eastern Australia. 2. Pasture and livestock production

2015 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 377 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Dove ◽  
J. A. Kirkegaard ◽  
W. M. Kelman ◽  
S. J. Sprague ◽  
S. E. McDonald ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Dual Purpose ◽  
Winter Canola ◽  
High Rainfall ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Winter Temperatures ◽  
Grazing Systems ◽  
Livestock Systems ◽  
South Eastern Australia

In south-eastern Australia, low winter temperatures often reduce pasture growth and thus winter herbage supply relative to livestock requirements. Grazing of vegetative grain crops in winter is one strategy that might overcome this feed gap. In a study with young sheep over two seasons near Canberra, ACT, we compared pasture-only grazing with three separate crop–livestock systems in which the sheep grazed long-season wheat, winter canola or a combination of these, for intervals over the period May–August. We measured forage biomass, sheep grazing days (SGD) and liveweight accumulated per ha. Crop-grazing treatments resulted in much more winter forage for grazing sheep (t DM ha–1): in 2010, one crop 2.5–3.0, two crops 3.5 v. pasture only 1; in 2011, one crop 2, two crops 3 v. pasture only 1.4. In the first season, grazing one crop resulted in ~2000 extra SGD ha–1 and the accumulation of more liveweight per ha than in the pasture-only treatment; grazing of two crops resulted in >3500 extra SGD ha–1. Equivalent values in the second, drier season were: one crop, ~1000 extra SGD ha–1; two crops, 2600 extra SGD ha–1. Spelling of pastures during crop grazing led to extra pasture growth, such that in each of the two seasons, 40% of the total benefit in extra SGD per ha came from the extra pasture. The results indicate that, like grazed wheat, grazed canola can provide valuable winter forage, especially when used together with wheat. The data also provide the first quantification of the effect of crop grazing on pasture spelling and subsequent pasture supply, and suggest value in the incorporation of grazing wheat and canola into grazing systems in the high-rainfall zone.

Spray-topping annual grass pasture with glyphosate to delay loss of feeding value during summer. IV. Diet composition, herbage intake, and performance in grazing sheep

1999 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 487 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. J. Leury ◽  
C. Siever-Kelly ◽  
R. J. Simpson ◽  
K. L. Gatford ◽  
H. Dove
Keyword(s):  
Diet Composition ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Soluble Carbohydrate ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Annual Grass ◽  
Plant Parts ◽  
Seed Head ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Grazing Sheep ◽  
Days After Anthesis

We report the effects of spray-topping annual grass pasture with glyphosate (180 g a.i./ha as Roundup CT, at the seed head emergence stage) on the nutritive value of herbage and on subsequent performance of grazing sheep. Eight 1-ha plots, consisting of 4 sprayed and 4 unsprayed (control) plots, were set-stocked with Merino wethers (18 months old, 12 sheep/ha) from 8 days after anthesis in the control plots (late spring) until 165 days after anthesis (mid-autumn). In 4 periods (15–20, 36–41, 71–76, and 99–104 days after anthesis; Periods 1–4, respectively) sheep were dosed with synthetic alkanes and herbage and faecal samples were taken, in order to estimate diet composition (in terms of plant parts), faecal output, herbage intake, and the digestibility of the whole diet. As described in our earlier papers, spray-topping reduced the yield of pasture dry matter, but also slowed the loss of water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) and digestibility during pasture senescence. The present paper shows that as a result, sheep grazing sprayed herbage in Periods 1 and 2 consumed significantly more organic matter (OM) and digestible OM (DOM) than sheep grazing the control pasture. Their diet contained a higher proportion of stem with a higher WSC concentration than that of the sheep grazing the control plots. The proportions of different plant parts (leaf blade+sheath, stem, seed head) in the diet of both the plot sheep and oesophageally fistulated (OF) sheep, which grazed treatments for short periods, differed significantly between treatments in all periods. However, the compositions of the diets selected by plot and OF sheep were similar. These results confirmed diet preferences measured using housed sheep and demonstrate the usefulness of alkane-based procedures for quantifying diet composition and intake in grazing animals. As a result of their higher intake of DOM, sheep grazing sprayed herbage had a significantly higher liveweight gain over the first 2 periods (40 g/day). In Period 3, sheep grazing sprayed herbage consumed more OM than sheep grazing control herbage. However, DOM intakes from sprayed or control plots were not significantly different in either Period 3 or Period 4, and were lower than in Periods 1 and 2. Sheep grazing both treatments lost liveweight at a similar rate over this time. Wool growth in sheep grazing sprayed herbage was improved by 10% during the experimental period; wool strength was also improved significantly. The implications for the management of sheep grazing spray-topped pastures over summer are discussed.

Effects of animal species and diet composition on long-chain alcohol faecal recoveries and accuracy of subsequent diet composition estimates

2017 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 355-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. M. M. Ferreira ◽  
C. López López ◽  
R. Celaya ◽  
K. Osoro ◽  
M. A. M. Rodrigues
Keyword(s):  
Diet Composition ◽  
Animal Species ◽  
Chain Alcohol ◽  
Long Chain Alcohol ◽  
Long Chain

Voluntary herbage intake and diet selection in Scottish-Blackface ewes suckling twin lambs and grazing perennial ryegrass/white clover swards with or without protein supplementation

2003 ◽  
Vol 2003 ◽  
pp. 192-192
Author(s):  
J. J. Hyslop ◽  
F. A. Kennedy ◽  
H. F. Adamson ◽  
R. Keatinge
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Diet Selection ◽  
Protein Supplementation ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Grazing Systems

Mixed perennial ryegrass and white clover swards are often used as the basis of upland sheep grazing systems. This study’s objective was to examine voluntary herbage intake and diet selection in 30 lactating Scottish-Blackface ewes grazing mixed perennial ryegrass (PRG) and white clover (WC) swards supplemented with or without protein. The work was part of a wider study of nutrition and parasitology in organic sheep systems.

scholarly journals Does the Admixture of Forage Herbs Affect the Yield Performance, Yield Stability and Forage Quality of a Grass Clover Ley?

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (14) ◽  
pp. 5842
Author(s):  
Heike Lorenz ◽  
Thorsten Reinsch ◽  
Christof Kluß ◽  
Friedhelm Taube ◽  
Ralf Loges
Keyword(s):  
Functional Traits ◽  
Complex Mixture ◽  
Forage Quality ◽  
Growth Patterns ◽  
Yield Stability ◽  
Grazing Systems ◽  
Metabolisable Energy ◽  
Simulated Grazing ◽  
The Given

It is unclear whether the use of multi-species swards is a suitable measure for climate change adaptation by achieving high and stable dry matter (DM) production and good forage quality in grazing systems. The objective of the study is to evaluate whether a complex rather than a simple grass clover mixture enhances performance under nitrogen (N)-deficient conditions due to greater diversity in plant functional traits. During a four-year field experiment, a three-species and a seven-species grass clover mixture were compared under one cutting-for-conservation and two simulated grazing (defoliation every three or four weeks) treatments. The results revealed a similarity in the DM yields of both seed mixtures, indicating that in the given conditions the species in the simple mixture already offered crucial yield-determining functional traits. Different growth patterns, however, led to higher intra-annual yield stability in the complex mixture. In the cutting-for-conservation system, DM yields were higher, but this came at the expense of reduced metabolisable energy and crude protein contents and lower inter-annual yield stability. We conclude that higher seeding costs for multi-species mixtures are compensated by greater yield stability while offering the potential for additional eco-system services like enhanced carbon sequestration and diverse food for pollinators.

Diet selection, herbage intake and liveweight gain in young sheep grazing dual-purpose wheats and sheep responses to mineral supplements

2009 ◽  
Vol 49 (10) ◽  
pp. 749 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Dove ◽  
K. G. McMullen
Keyword(s):  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Dual Purpose ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Mineral Supplements ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
High K ◽  
Plant Wax ◽  
Very High

Young crossbred sheep grazed dual-purpose wheat crops in three experiments evaluating the factors affecting variability in liveweight gain. All crops had high crude protein contents [22–33% dry matter (DM)] and in vitro DM digestibilities (0.754–0.876), which would not have limited liveweight gains. Digestibilities measured in vivo in grazing animals were even higher (0.839–0.854). No significant differences were found in preference of sheep for six different wheat cultivars. The diet composition and herbage intake of the sheep were measured in all experiments using plant wax marker profiles. Wheat forage made up 0.88–0.98 of the diet in sheep supplemented with unchopped oaten hay and 0.97–0.99 of the diet in unsupplemented sheep. Total intakes in the first two experiments were ~1380 g DM/day (3.7–4.0% of liveweight). Intakes in Experiment 3 were lower (960–1180 g DM/day; 2.6–3.1% of liveweight) because drought conditions reduced the amount of forage available. There were marked liveweight gain responses (30–50%) to mineral supplements based on NaCl, CaCO3 and MgO. Evidence is presented that these were mainly due to the Na and Mg, since the consumed diet was more than adequate for Ca. Relative to the requirements of young sheep for growth, wheat forage had high K levels (6–8 times requirement) and very low Na levels (as low as 0.02–0.03 of requirement) and thus very high K : Na ratios. Since high dietary K : Na ratios can greatly reduce Mg absorption from the rumen, the response to Na may have been partly mediated through improved Mg absorption. The liveweight gain responses to Na/Mg were large and economic, so it is recommended that young sheep grazing dual-purpose wheat be routinely supplemented with a 1 : 1 mix of NaCl : MgO.

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