Forage intake, digestibility and performance of cattle, horses, sheep and goats grazing together on an improved heathland

2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 102 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Osoro ◽  
L. M. M. Ferreira ◽  
U. García ◽  
A. Martínez ◽  
R. Celaya
Keyword(s):  
Late Summer ◽  
Grazing Season ◽  
Sheep And Goats ◽  
Heathland Vegetation ◽  
Herbivore Species ◽  
Forage Intake ◽  
Cattle Herds ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Pasture Area ◽  
Ingestive Behaviour

A mixed herd of five cows, five mares, 32 ewes and 32 goats was managed with their offspring during two consecutive years in a paddock (22.3 ha) with 76% of heathlands and 24% of improved pasture area, with the aim of studying their differences in ingestive behaviour and performance. Diet composition, dry matter intake (DMI) and digestibility (DMD) were estimated on three occasions using the alkane technique, and all animals were periodically weighed to calculate bodyweight (BW) changes per livestock unit (LU). Goats selected higher proportions of shrubs than the other herbivore species (P < 0.001). Overall, daily DMI was higher (P < 0.001) in equines (218 g/kg BW0.75) than in ruminants (174, 121 and 80 g/kg BW0.75 for cattle, goats and sheep, respectively), whereas DMD was lower (P < 0.001) in equines (569 g/kg DM) compared with ruminants (733–791 g/kg DM). During the first half of the grazing season (from late April to mid-July), dams’ BW changes per LU did not differ between species. However, during late summer–autumn lower (P < 0.001) BW losses per LU were observed in sheep and goats (–89 g/day) than in cattle (–534 g/day), being intermediate in horses (–254 g/day). For the overall grazing season, ewes and goats showed greater (P = 0.056) BW gains per LU (338 g/day) than cows and mares (178 g/day). Regarding the offspring, BW gains per LU were greater (P < 0.001) in lambs (3612 g/day) than in other species. Calves presented greater gains than kids (2647 vs 1909 g/day.LU), whereas foals showed intermediate gains (2385 g/day.LU). Therefore, under these conditions of partially improved heathlands, sheep was the most productive species. However, looking at the diet selection and digestibility, goats could complement sheep or cattle herds by achieving a more efficient utilisation of heathland vegetation, and increasing overall productivity per hectare. By contrast, horses, having high levels of grass intake, compete with cattle and sheep for pasture utilisation.

Diet selection and performance of sheep and goats grazing on different heathland vegetation types

2013 ◽  
Vol 109 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 119-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Osoro ◽  
L.M.M. Ferreira ◽  
U. García ◽  
B.M. Jáuregui ◽  
A. Martínez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diet Selection ◽  
Vegetation Types ◽  
Sheep And Goats ◽  
Heathland Vegetation ◽  
And Performance

scholarly journals Ingestive behaviour and forage intake responses of young and mature steers to the vertical differentiation of sugarcane in pen and grazing studies

2017 ◽  
Vol 155 (10) ◽  
pp. 1677-1688 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. BENVENUTTI ◽  
D. R. PAVETTI ◽  
D. P. POPPI ◽  
D. G. MAYER ◽  
I. J. GORDON
Keyword(s):  
Research Study ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Latin Square ◽  
Tropical Areas ◽  
Forage Intake ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Vertical Sections ◽  
Pasture Area ◽  
Ingestive Behaviour ◽  
Two Age Groups

SUMMARYSugarcane is an important forage resource in sub-tropical and tropical areas as it is used during the winter or dry season when the growth rate of pastures is significantly reduced. The current research study assessed the effect of four vertical sections of sugarcane in a pen trial and the level of sugarcane utilization in a grazing trial on the ingestive behaviour and forage intake of two age groups of steers (1 and 2 years old). The pen trial was comprised of two simultaneous 4 × 4 balanced Latin square designs (one for each age group of animals) of four periods, four animals and four feeding treatments, which consisted of four equal vertical sections of sugarcane. Dry matter (DM) and digestible DM (DDM) intake per kilogram of metabolic weight declined gradually from top to bottom of the sugarcane, with no significant differences between the age groups of steers. This difference in intake was associated with a decline in intake of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) as a proportion of the liveweight of the animal and an increase of total chewing time per kilogram of DM or NDF from top to bottom of the sugarcane. It was concluded that the toughness of plant material played a significant role regulating intake, which was higher for the top sections of sugarcane. In the grazing trial, steers of both age groups grazed down sugarcane in three plots over 9 days. Steers grazed up to four distinctive grazing strata. Digestible DM intake (DDM intake) was high at low levels of horizontal utilization of the top grazing stratum but DDM intake started to decline sharply when this stratum was removed in 0·92 of paddock area (i.e. equivalent to 0·08 of the pasture area remaining un-grazed). It was concluded that the proportion of un-grazed area of the pasture can be used as a grazing management strategy to control forage intake for sugarcane.

An investigation into palatability as a factor responsible for reduced intake of silage by sheep

1990 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 253-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. G. Buchanan-Smith
Keyword(s):  
Acetic Acid ◽  
Linear Response ◽  
Latin Square ◽  
Ammonia Nitrogen ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Once Daily ◽  
Quadratic Response ◽  
Forage Intake ◽  
Linear Manner ◽  
Ingestive Behaviour

ABSTRACTTo separate ingestive factors involving palatability from post-ingestive factors responsible for forage intake being depressed by ensiling, silages were evaluated using sham-fed animals. Protocol for all experiments was to formulate low dry matter (DM) silages from a high DM lucerne silage reconstituted with either water, solutions containing constituents commonly found in silage, or extracts of low DM silage. Solutions of silage constituents were adjusted before reconstitution to a pH typical of silage. Tests were performed by offering silages one at a time once daily to oesophageal fistulated sheep, maintained on lucerne hay, but starved for 5 h prior to the test. Intake was measured over 30 min. Sheep were adapted to intermediate levels of each test ingredient(s) before experiments were done to evaluate effects of four to five levels of each ingredient using Latin-square designs. Animals were sham fed during both periods of adaptation and of testing ingredient levels. Mean of 30-min intakes for control silages was 573 g DM. Lactic and acetic acids added together, to levels of 53·2 and 35·4 g/kg, respectively, enhanced intake with a linear response due to level (P < 0·05). Acetic acid added by itself to 88·0 g/kg depressed intake with a linear response due to level (P < 0·05) in which 10 g/kg added acetic acid depressed 30-min intake by 13·5 g. Acetic and butyric acids added together to levels of 36·2 and 54·4 g/kg respectively, were without effect as was ammonia added to 3·8 g/kg as ammonia nitrogen (N). A mixture of free amino acids added to a level of 9·2 g amino-N per kg was without effect, but at a level of 13·8 g/kg, intake was depressed to proportionately 0·75 of the control. A mixture of two amines and gamma amino butyric acid added to a level of 4·6 g N per kg caused a quadratic response (P < 005) in which intermediate levels enhanced intake but the highest level was without effect. An extract from good-quality silage had no effect on intake and that from a poor-quality silage enhanced intake in a linear manner (P < 0·05). These data indicate that elevation of acetic acid in silage without increases in amounts of other constituents decreased intake of silage through an effect on palatability. This conclusion modifies interpretation on the significance of palatability, determined from studies of ingestive behaviour of ruminants, as a factor to explain reduced intake of sheep given silage.

Forage Intake and Performance of Lactating Beef Cows Grazing High or Low Quality Pastures1

1979 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 692-700 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. W. Holloway ◽  
W. T. Butts ◽  
J. D. Beaty ◽  
J. T. Hopper ◽  
N. S. Hall
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cows ◽  
Forage Intake ◽  
And Performance

Influence of Lasalocid Level on Forage Intake, Digestibility, Ruminal Fermentation, Liquid Flow and Performance of Beef Cattle Grazing Winter Range1

1987 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 777-785 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. A. Jacques ◽  
R. C. Cochran ◽  
L. R. Corah ◽  
T. B. Avery ◽  
K. O. Zoellner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Liquid Flow ◽  
Cattle Grazing ◽  
Ruminal Fermentation ◽  
Fermentation Liquid ◽  
Forage Intake ◽  
And Performance

scholarly journals THE EFFECT OF MOISTURE CONTENT OF FORAGE STORED IN POLYVINYL SILOS ON INTAKE AND PERFORMANCE OF DAIRY COWS

1964 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. S. Logan ◽  
P. S. Haydon
Keyword(s):  
Moisture Content ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Dry Matter Content ◽  
Forage Intake ◽  
Silage Quality ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Gas Tight

Legume–grass forage was ensiled two seasons in 25-ton polyvinyl-encased stacks at dry matter (D.M.) levels of 22 to 37% or stored as field-cured hay. The polyvinyl sleeve coverings provided initial gas-tight conditions. High losses occurred in the high D.M. (32 to 37%) silage during the feeding-out period. Silage quality, as indicated by volatile fatty acid ratios, proximate principles, and digestibility coefficients, was not significantly influenced by D.M. content. When cows were fed the lower D.M. (22 to 29%) silages and hay, forage intake was inversely related to its dry matter content. Intake of high D.M. silage appeared abnormally low. Milk yields appeared to be more consistently influenced by small variations in grain intake than forage dry matter intake through both trials. Milk yields from silages were greater than from hay per unit of D.M. intake. Moisture content of forage had no significant effect on milk composition as indicated by percentage of butterfat, solids-not-fat, or protein.

scholarly journals Comparative studies on the grazing behaviour of fallow deer and sheep in winter

2008 ◽  
Vol 51 (5) ◽  
pp. 487-497
Author(s):  
A. Fischer ◽  
G. Schalitz ◽  
A. Behrendt
Keyword(s):  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Fallow Deer ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Winter Period ◽  
Large Animal ◽  
Pasture Area ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Snow Storms ◽  
Ingestive Behaviour ◽  
Grazing Behaviour

Abstract. During two successive winter periods the ingestive behaviour of female fallow deer and Skudde mother sheep was observed during the day-light periods of a day in fourteen-day intervals. The animals were grouped together on an extensively used permanent fen pasture area with a stock of 0.5 large-animal units (which corresponds to 250 kg of animal living mass) per hectare. Sufficient quantities of fresh grass and hay were available. The results obtained show that the animals maintained their species-specific ingestive behaviour despite common keeping. As compared to fallow deer, the sheep spent markedly longer time with ingestive activities. There were only rare instances of rivalry and conflict (over grazing positions or hay-feeding points) between the two species. The animals of the two groups of species under examination are well adapted to the prevailing climatic conditions. They proved to be able to respond to extreme weather conditions as cold periods and snow storms. It can be rightfully stated that they are able to spend the winter in the open without harm to their health. Outdoor keeping in the winter period can be regarded as suitable for fallow deer and Skudde sheep in northeast Germany.

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