Drought feeding of sheep. 1. Wool growth and body weight responses to protein supplementation of grain based diets in three strains of Merinos

1971 ◽  
Vol 11 (49) ◽  
pp. 148
Author(s):  
DG Saville ◽  
AC Gleeson ◽  
WR McManus
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Cottonseed Meal ◽  
Peanut Meal ◽  
Protein Supplementation ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Wool Growth

The effect of diet and strain of sheep on wool production and body weight during drought feeding was investigated. Collinsville, Bungaree, and Peppin strains of Merino were offered either oat or wheat diets alone or supplemented with cottonseed meal or peanut meal at two levels. The Collinsville and Bungaree strains produced more wool more efficiently than Peppin Merinos. Their ranking on wool production was similar to that at pasture. Up to 30 per cent more wool was produced by sheep fed oat diets. Further responses were gained by adding either cottonseed meal or peanut meal. Sheep fed cottonseed meal produced the most wool, this being obtained at 25 per cent supplementation with oat diets and 50 per cent supplementation with wheat diets. Possible reasons for these differences are discussed.

Drought feeding of sheep. 2. Wool growth and body weight of three types of Merinos on oat based diets supplemented with formaldehyde treated cottonseed meal

1971 ◽  
Vol 11 (52) ◽  
pp. 488
Author(s):  
DG Saville ◽  
AC Gleeson ◽  
WR McManus
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Cottonseed Meal ◽  
Significant Response ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Body Weights

Samples of ewes from three flocks at Trangie were drought fed grain or grain plus varying levels of formaldehyde treated or untreated cottonseed meal for up to 26 weeks. Body weights and clean wool production were measured during this period. Large differences in wool growth were observed between sheep fed oat or wheat diets. Untreated cottonseed meal stimulated wool growth but at least 25 per cent was needed for a significant response. Above this level little further response in wool growth was obtained. Treatment of the cottonseed meal with formaldehyde had no significant effect on wool growth or body weight at any level of supplementation. Possible reasons for this failure in response are discussed.

Effect of abomasal infusions of methionine, casein, and starch plus methionine on the wool production of Merino wethers fed on lucerne or wheaten chaff

1974 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 945 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Dove ◽  
GE Robards
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Body Weight Gain ◽  
Nitrogen Retention ◽  
Basal Diet ◽  
Nitrogen Excretion ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Quality Diet ◽  
Urinary Nitrogen Excretion ◽  
Urinary Nitrogen

Merino wethers received daily abomasal infusions of (a) 2.6 g DL-methionine, (b) 80 g casein protein or (c) 2.6 g DL-methionine plus 87 g maize starch, while consuming either lucerne chaff or wheaten chaff. Responses in wool growth, nitrogen metabolism and body weight were measured. Sheep fed on lucerne chaff had a higher urinary nitrogen excretion and nitrogen retention than those fed on wheaten chaff regardless of the presence or type of infusion. The infusion of methionine did not markedly alter these parameters from their original levels on either diet. On both diets, casein infusion led to increased urinary nitrogen excretion and nitrogen retention. Compared with sheep given starch plus methionine infusions, those given casein had higher urinary nitrogen excretion and nitrogen retention. Changes in fleece-free body weight gain followed a similar pattern. There were no pronounced differences in faecal nitrogen excretion. Regardless of the presence or type of infusion, sheep fed on lucerne grew more wool than those on wheaten chaff. On both diets, all infusions were accompanied by higher wool growths than on the basal diet alone. The effect of the casein infusion, compared with methionine infusion, was apparent only in sheep on wheaten chaff. Wool growth rates in sheep infused with starch plus methionine were not higher than the rates in the same sheep infused with methionine alone. The results suggest that the wool production of sheep will show a greater response to abomasal supplements of sulphur amino acids or casein if they are consuming a high quality diet such as lucerne chaff, compared with a low quality diet such as wheaten chaff. The apparent failure of starch infusion to stimulate wool growth above the level obtained with methionine infusions alone is discussed in relation to the interaction of protein and energy in the growth of wool.

scholarly journals A Relationship Between Sulphur Content of Wool and Wool Production by Merino Sheep

1967 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 153 ◽  
Author(s):  
PJ Reis ◽  
DA Tunks ◽  
OB Williams ◽  
AJ Williams
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Unit Area ◽  
Sulphur Content ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Weight Index ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Fleece Weight ◽  
The Relationship

The sulphur content of wool from 66 Peppin Merino wethers maintained together at pasture was measured in midside staples representing 49 weeks growth. The distribution of sulphur values was normal with a mean of 3�43 % and a range of 3�08-3�92 %. The sulphur content of the wool was inversely related to wool production among these sheep. There were no significant differences in the relationship when wool production was expressed as fleece weight index (F.W.I.), i.e. clean fleece weight/body weight (r = -0�48), as clean fleece weight (r = -0�42), or as wool growth per unit area of skin (r = - 0�37). The mean sulphur content of wool from sheep with the 10 highest values for F.W.I. was 3�27%, compared with a mean of 3 �55% sulphur for wool from sheep with the 10 lowest values for F.W.I.

Effects of defaunation of the rumen and supplementation with amino acids on the wool production of housed Saxon Merinos. 4. Cottonseed meal, analogues of methionine and avoparcin

1988 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 707 ◽  
Author(s):  
DJ Cottle
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Cottonseed Meal ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Wool Fibre ◽  
Growth Responses ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Fleece Weight ◽  
Ciliate Protozoa

Ten groups, each of 6 superfine Merino wethers were individually penned indoors and hand-fed at maintenance level a ration of 70% oats and 30% chopped lucerne hay (w/w). The groups of sheep were fed 3 different supplementary pellets rotationally during three 9-week periods. Each group received 3 of the following 7 pellets: (1) control, (2) cottonseed meal (CSM), (3) CSM plus hydroxymethyl-methionine (MEP), (4) CSM plus methionine hydroxy analogue (MHA), (5) CSM plus avoparcin (AV), (6) CSM plus MEP plus AV, and (7) CSM plus MHA plus AV. The rations were offered 3 times a week. Half of the sheep had no rumen ciliate protozoa. Wool production was measured during the 7-month period. Defaunation resulted in a 6.9% increase in greasy fleece weight and a 7.7% increase in clean wool production. Average wool fibre diameter increased by 0.6 pm in defaunated sheep. The clean wool growth responses compared with sheep fed the control pellets were 4, 5, 12, 0, 3 and 9% respectively for sheep fed pellets 2-7. The most cost-effective supplement was the CSM plus MHA pellet, which increased clean wool production by 0.5 glday compared with sheep fed the CSM pellet but did not significantly affect wool quality. It was concluded that supplements containing MHA could be economically fed to housed superfine Merino wethers ('Sharlea'), but MHA appears to be relatively inefficient in supplying methionine to the intestines.

Effects of defaunation of the rumen and supplementation with amino acids on the wool production of housed Saxon Merinos. 3. Cottonseed meal and hydroxymethyl-methionine

1988 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 699 ◽  
Author(s):  
DJ Cottle
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Cottonseed Meal ◽  
Growth Response ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Diameter Ratio ◽  
Design Experiment ◽  
Growth Responses ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Ciliate Protozoa

In experiment 1 six groups, each of 10 superfine Merino wethers were individually penned indoors and hand-fed chopped lucerne hay with either control pellets, cottonseed meal pellets (CSM) or cottonseed meal plus hydroxymethyl-methionine pellets (CSMEP). Following their shearing, the 6 groups in experiment 2 were hand-fed 1 of 3 chopped lucerne hay:oat rations [75: 25,50: 50,25: 75% (w/w)]. Each sheep was also fed either control pellets (25 g/day) or CSMEP pellets (75 g/day) in a cross-over design experiment. In both experiments, the rations were fed at maintenance level and were offered 3 times a week. Half of the sheep had no rumen ciliate protozoa. In experiments 1 and 2, wool production was measured during a 4 and 6 month period respectively. In experiment 1, defaunation resulted in a 6% increase in clean wool production on the unsupplemented chopped lucerne hay ration. Inclusion of CSM and CSMEP pellets resulted in clean wool growth responses of 16% and 19% respectively. Unacceptable increases in fibre diameter were associated with the increased wool production. In experiment 2, the clean wool response to defaunation was highest (12%) on the 75% chopped lucerne hay ration, when the control pellet was fed. Inclusion of the CSMEP pellet resulted in clean wool growth responses of 0.73, 0.98 and 0.99 g/day in sheep fed on the 75,50 and 25% chopped lucerne hay rations respectively. The wool production responses due to the CSMEP pellet were associated with increases in fibre diameter (0.3 �m), length (4 mm/year) and length/diameter ratio (0.4 �m/day.�m) of the wool grown. It was concluded that CSMEP pellets are best fed with a mixed ration containing more grain than chopped lucerne hay. The wool growth response to feeding hydroxymethyl-methionine was considered uneconomic.

Seasonal fluctuations in wool growth in south Western Australia.

1961 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 85 ◽  
Author(s):  
AM Stewart ◽  
RJ Moir ◽  
PG Schinckel
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Seasonal Fluctuation ◽  
Seasonal Fluctuations ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Climatic Environment

The growth rate of wool was measured at monthly intervals for a period of two years in four groups totalling forty Merino sheep, maintained under typical farm conditions in a Mediterranean climatic environment. Marked seasonal fluctuation in wool growth was found in all sheep. The highest level of clean wool production, 85 attained in the spring months, was nearly three times that of the lowest level, which occurred in the autumn. The rate of wool growth fluctuated independently of body weight. Wool growth fell steep4 while bob weight was maintained; wool growth subsequently rose sharply while body weight increased relatively slowly. The factors responsible for the observed fluctuation in the rate of wool growth are discussed and the conclusion reached that lack of useful energy and protein, in the summer and autumn grazing is probably the principal cause of the decline in rate of wool growth in these months.

Studies on the supplementary feeding of sheep consuming mulga (Acacia aneura). 5. The effect of cobalt and cottonseed meal supplementation

1981 ◽  
Vol 21 (111) ◽  
pp. 404 ◽  
Author(s):  
NP McMeniman ◽  
DR Niven ◽  
D Crowther ◽  
RJW Gartner ◽  
GM Murphy
Keyword(s):  
Beneficial Effect ◽  
Cottonseed Meal ◽  
Supplementary Feeding ◽  
Growth Responses ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Formaldehyde Treatment ◽  
Limiting Nutrient ◽  
Acacia Aneura ◽  
Sulfur Balance

In the first experiment designed to identify the deficiencies in mulga leaves, four groups of sheep were fed mulga and offered one of the following supplements; cobalt, sulfur, cobalt plus sulfur, and molasses. A fifth group acted as a control. All sheep received a phosphorus supplement. The cobalt supplement had no beneficial effect on liveweight or clean wool production. In contrast, the sulfur and molasses supplements significantly improved liveweight gain, clean wool production and sulfur balance. The liveweight and wool growth responses were more than twice as large in the sheep receiving a molasses supplement as in those receiving sulfur. In a second experiment, three groups of sheep on a diet of mulga leaves were supplemented with molasses and phosphorus and, in addition, two groups received 50 g/head.d of either formaldehyde treated or untreated cottonseed meal. Both cottonseed meal supplements significantly improved liveweight gain, but formaldehyde treatment of the meal had no additional effect. Under the conditions of the experiment rumen ammonia was a major limiting nutrient.

Genetic evaluation of production traits between and within flocks of Merino sheep. I. Hogget fleece weights, body weight and wool quality

1989 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 433 ◽  
Author(s):  
SI Mortimer ◽  
KD Atkins
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Environmental Effects ◽  
Genetic Variance ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Production Traits ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Phenotypic Correlations ◽  
Genetic And Phenotypic Correlations ◽  
Fleece Weight

Wool production traits were measured on Merino hogget ewes in an unselected multiple-bloodline flock over a 7-year period at Trangie Agricultural Research Centre, N.S.W. The traits measured were greasy fleece weight (GFW), skirted fleece weight (SKFW), yield (Y), clean fleece weight (CFW), fibre diameter (FD), body weight (BWT) and staple length (SL). These measurements were used to examine genetic differences between and within flocks of Merino sheep, and to estimate heritability of and genetic and phenotypic correlations among these traits. Significant strain, flock within strain and flock effects were present for all traits. Interactions between these effects and year were non-significant. Within-flock genetic variance was always larger than between-flock within strain genetic variance for each trait. The influence of environmental effects on these traits was also examined. The environmental effects of birth-rearing type, age at observation and age of dam together accounted for about 7-10% of the total within-flock variation in fleece weights and body weight.After adjusting for significant environmental effects, paternal half-sib heritability estimates were 0.29 �. 0.06 for GFW, 0.22 � 0.05 for SKFW, 0.35 � 0.05 for Y, 0.30 �0.06 for CFW, 0.48 �0.07 for FD, 0.34 �. 0.06 for BWT and 0.44 �0.07 for SL. Estimates for genetic and phenotypic correlations were in agreement with published estimates except for the genetic correlation between CFW and FD (0.40 �. 0.11), and the genetic correlations involving BWT, which were essentially zero. The implications of the results of this study for the genetic improvement of Merino sheep for wool production are discussed.

Supplementary feeding of Merino wethers grazing weed-free stubble pastures

1981 ◽  
Vol 21 (110) ◽  
pp. 272 ◽  
Author(s):  
LG Butler
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Field Trial ◽  
Compensatory Growth ◽  
Supplementary Feeding ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Apparent Digestibility ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Wheat Stubble

A field trial was conducted in the Wimmera region of Victoria to investigate the effect of several supplements on 4-year-old Merino wethers grazing a weed-free wheat stubble for 3 months, The four treatments were: a control (no supplement), urea/molasses block, 100 g/head day-1 of lupin grain, and 2 g urea plus 0.5 g Na2SO4 l-1 in the drinking water. Twenty sheep per treatment were used, and liveweight change and wool growth were measured. Although all groups lost weight, the lupin group lost only 0.5 kg per head over the 3 months of the trial, and was 3.8 kg heavier (P <0.01) than the control group, while the urea/molasses group was 2.2 kg heavier (P <0.01) than the control group. There was no effect of the urea plus sulfur supplement in the drinking water on liveweight or wool production. The urea/molasses block did not affect wool production but lupin grain stimulated wool production by 0.08 kg (P <0.05). The sheep were weighed and shorn four and a half months after the trial (August), during which time all groups grazed together on green feed. The experimental liveweight differences had disappeared, apparently due to compensatory growth. In addition, a digestibility trial was conducted in an attempt to explain some of the field results. The treatments were designed to simulate those used in the field. Lupin grain stimulated intake by 129 g day-1 (P <0.05) but had no effect on apparent digestibility of straw. The treatment simulating the urea/ molasses block (urea plus sulfur plus sucrose in the drinking water) stimulated intake by 159 g day-l (P <0.05) and tended to increase digestibility (P > 0.05). It was concluded that supplementary feeding of Merino wethers grazing weed-free stubble is unlikely to be an economic farm practice.

Seasonal variations in wool growth and heat tolerance of sheep. I. Wool growth

1960 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 75 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Wodzicka
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Day Treatment ◽  
The Other ◽  
Seasonal Rhythm ◽  
Group Iii ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Group I ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Group Ii ◽  
The Difference

The monthly wool growth of three groups of rams was studied at Beltsville, Maryland. Group I received natural daylight (at 38° 53' N.) and was shorn monthly. Group II had a 7:17 hours of daylight to hours of darkness rhythm and was shorn every 6 months, once in winter and once in summer. Group III received natural daylight and was likewise shorn every 6 months. The rams of all groups produced more wool in summer than in winter. This difference was significant (P<0.001). The mean body weight and food intake were both greater in the winter months, which indicated that the seasonal rhythm of wool growth was not a consequence of poorer feeding in winter. The rams which were shorn monthly (group I) grew considerably more wool than the other two groups, but the difference was not statistically significant. The short-day treatment of group II did not increase the annual wool production nor decrease the seasonal rhythm of wool growth. The balance of evidence from this and other experiments indicates that temperature rather than light controls the seasonal rhythm of wool growth.

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