Rape and sunflower seed meals as supplements for sheep grazing cereal stubbles

1987 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 513 ◽  
Author(s):  
JB Coombe ◽  
A Axelsen ◽  
H Dove
Keyword(s):  
Rapeseed Meal ◽  
High Variability ◽  
Free Access ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Sunflower Meal ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Wheat Stubble ◽  
Daily Intakes ◽  
Stocking Rates

In 2 experiments, Merino sheep aged about 18 months grazed cereal stubbles for 12 weeks and were either: (i) given no supplement; (ii) given free access to blocks containing 30% urea; or received daily about 300 g DM sheep-1 of (iii) rapeseed meal (RSM); (iv) formaldehyde-treated RSM (FRSM); (v) sunflower meal (SFM); or (vi) formaldehyde-treated SFM (FSFM). In experiment 1, wethers grazed a barley stubble at stocking rates (SR) of 18 and 36 sheep ha-1, and in experiment 2, mixed flocks of wethers and ewes grazed wheat stubble at 10 and 20 sheep ha-1. Mean daily intakes of urea were about 8.5 and 11.5 g sheep-1 for experiments 1 and 2 respectively. Both forms of SFM were readily eaten throughout, but in both experiments, intakes of RSM and FRSM were low and were characterised by high variability from day to day, and among individual sheep within groups. In both experiments, all sheep gained some weight during the first 2-3 weeks; thereafter control and urea fed sheep lost weight at mean rates varying from about 96 to 180 g day-1 depending on SR. Feeding SFM or FSFM reduced this loss to about 20 g day-1 at SR of 10-20 ha-1, and to 60 g day-1 at a SR of 36 ha-1, while losses were intermediate in sheep fed RSM or FRSM. In experiment 1, daily wool growth rates varied from about 5.5 g clean dry wool (CDW) sheep-1 for control and urea-fed sheep to about 11 g CDW sheep-1 for sheep fed SFM and FSFM; respective daily rates in experiment 2 were 3.6 and 8.2 g CDW sheep-1. Wool growth of sheep fed RSM and FRSM was intermediate in both experiments. When ewes were mated on high-quality feed after grazing stubbles, conception was delayed for about 14 days in a high proportion (about 40%) of those ewes that had lost considerable weight during stubble grazing. This effect was overcome by feeding daily 300 g DM sheep-1 of SFM for 7 days prior to and during mating. Delayed conception extended the lambing period. although final numbers of lambs born were not different among groups.

A study of merino sheep grazing a bladder saltbush (Atriplex vesicaria) –cotton-bush (Kochia aphylla) community on the riverine plain

1969 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 1123 ◽  
Author(s):  
AD Wilson ◽  
H Leigh ◽  
WE Mulham
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Grass ◽  
In Vitro Digestibility ◽  
Early Winter ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Seasonal Fluctuations ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Stocking Rates

A study was made of Merino sheep grazing a bladder saltbush (Atriplex vesicaria Hew. ex Benth.)–cotton-bush (Kochia aphylla R.Br.) community set stocked at three stocking rates (2.5, 1 .2, and 0.6 sheep/hectare) over a 3-year period. In spring the sheep preferred the perennial grass Danthonia caespitosa Gaudich. and the annuals Medicago polymorpha L. and Vulpia myuros (L.) K. C. Gmel. to the more abundant A. vesicaria. From summer to early winter the diet consisted mainly of A. vesicaria with the proportion of dead matter and Medicago burr increasing as the availability of A. vesicaria decreased. Seasonal fluctuations in wool growth were evident at all three stocking rates. Maximum wool growth rates occurred in spring when the nitrogen content (2.3%) and in vitro digestibility (65%) of the forage eaten was high. During autumn and early winter values for nitrogen (1.4%) and digestibility (50%) were lower and wool growth was at a minimum. At 0.6 sheep/ha animal productivity was maintained and there was little decline in the A. vesicaria population during the 3 years. Grazing eliminated all the A. vesicaria from the pasture stocked at 2.5 sheep/ha, and 98% at 1.2 sheep/ha. At these higher stocking rates the pasture proved incapable of maintaining the sheep for the 3-year period. The inability of A. vesicaria to recover after heavy or complete defoliation by grazing demonstrates the necessity of adopting a low stocking rate if the bush is to be retained.

A Comparative Study of Sheep Grazing a Semi-Arid Saltbush Pasture in Two Condition Classes.

1986 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 46 ◽  
Author(s):  
RD Graetz
Keyword(s):  
Nutritional Value ◽  
Body Weight Gain ◽  
Landsat Imagery ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Broken Hill ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Stocking Rates

Measurements were made of the wool growth, body weight gain and diet of sheep grazing a saltbush pasture near Broken Hill, N.S.W. The experiment utilized a fenceline contrast in saltbush (Atriplex vesrcarra) density that was visible on Landsat imagery. It ran for five years (1976-1981) with a design of two pasture types by two stocking rates. Fleece weights varied from 3.9-6.0 kg/head and wool production from 0.6-2.9 kg/ha. Neither wool production per head nor bodyweight were substantially affected by stocking rate or pasture type. The composition and quality of the diets selected by sheep on both pastures were identical and of high nutritional value indicating their capability to accommodate differences in pasture composition. Pasture quality was not limiting between stocking rates or determined by the abundance of saltbush. Changes in pasture composition resulting from grazing and exclosure were small and of no significance.

A study of Merino sheep grazing a cotton-bush (Kochia aphylla)–grassland (Stipa variabilis–Danthonia caespitosa) community on the riverine plain

1968 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 947 ◽  
Author(s):  
JH Leigh ◽  
AD Wilson ◽  
WE Mulham
Keyword(s):  
In Vitro Digestibility ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Dietary Crude Protein ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Main Component ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Low Rate

A study was made of Merino sheep continuously grazing a cotton-bush (Kochia aphylla R.Br.)–grassland (Stipa variabilis Hughes–Danthonia caespitosa Gaudich.) community over a 2 year period. Observations were carried out at two stocking rates (0.75 and 0.375 sheeplacre) and comparisons were made with plots from which K. aphylla had been mechanically removed. The aim of the study was to define the contribution made by K. aphylla (a drought-resistant chenopodiaceous shrub) to animal production and to examine the effects of the seasonal variation in composition, availability, and food value of the pasture on animal behaviour and performance. At the low rate of stocking K. aphylla contributed little to the diet of the sheep (max. 2% in autumn) despite its being at no time less than 20% of the forage available. At the high stocking rate its maximum contribution to the diet was 7% in late autumn. The major constituents of the diet in spring were the annuals Hedypnois rhagadioloides (L.) Willd. and Hypochoeris spp. and in summer the perennials Danthonia caespitosa and Kochia pentagona R.H. Anderson. D. caespitosa was also the main component during autumn at the low stocking rate but at the high stocking rate it was replaced in the diet by a high proportion of dead matter and Medicago burr. Seasonal variations in wool growth were greater at the high stocking rate than at the low rate, the lowest production occurring in autumn. Body weight and wool growth were not significantly altered by the presence of K. aphylla at either of the stocking rates. The lowest recorded value for dietary crude protein was 8.8%. Wool growth was closely related to the in vitro digestibility of the forage eaten and to the availability of green feed within the pasture.

The patterns of wool growth of Merino sheep grazing three Chenopod shrub rangelands.

1980 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 53 ◽  
Author(s):  
RD Graetz
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Variations ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
The West ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Management Regime ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Different Types

Annual fleece we~ghts and the seasonal varldtlon m uool growth of Peppm Merino wethers were measured for nearlv tlve years on three paddocks on the pastoral property 'Pme Creek' in the West Darlnlg distr~ct of Nea South Wales. The paddocks had the same stocking rate but encloyed different types of shrub rangelands - saltbush, pearl bluebush and degraded bluebush. Annual fleece weights varied between 4.0 and 5.3 kg (clean scoured) per sheep with no significant differences between the flocks in the different paddocks in any year. There were only small differences within years in the seasonal variations in wool growth for sheep from the three paddocks. Analysis of the relationships between ramfall and fleece weights during the experimental period and from 18 years of property records revealed that under the conservative stocking management regime of this property, wool cut per head \%as largely independent of the previous year's ramfali.

Gypsum labelled with tritiated water as a marker for estimating supplement intake by individual sheep fed in groups

1984 ◽  
Vol 24 (127) ◽  
pp. 484 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Dove
Keyword(s):  
Specific Activity ◽  
Tritiated Water ◽  
Rapeseed Meal ◽  
Mean Difference ◽  
Sunflower Meal ◽  
Measurement Variability ◽  
Plaster Of Paris ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Supplement Intake

Three experiments were conducted to evaluate gypsum, labelled in its water of crystallization with tritiated water (TOH), as a marker substance for estimating the intake of solid supplements by grazing ruminants. The TOH-gypsum was prepared by mixing plaster of Paris with TOH and was then incorporated into pelleted supplements of sunflower meal (SFM) or rapeseed meal (RSM). All gypsum specific activity could be recovered by 48 h extraction with 0.02 M NaEDTA, but not 48 h extraction with water. When known levels of labelled SFM were fed to housed lambs, the mean difference between known and estimated intake was 4% or 28 g/d. The slope of the regression relating these intakes was not significantly different from 1 0. In the second experiment, the same lambs were offered labelled SFM outdoors, from communal troughs, at daily rates of 400 or 1000 g/head. In the first group, mean intake estimated from the marker was 2% or 8 g/d different from that estimated from trough measurements. In the second group, spillage and trampling of supplements was observed, and intake estimated using the marker was only 88% of that estimated from trough measurement. Variability between animals in intake was high and ranged from 336 to 1302 g/d over the two feeding levels. Accuracy of the marker method was confirmed in a third study with Merinos grazing wheat stubbles at two stocking rates, supplemented with 325 g/d of SFM or RSM. Those offered RSM ate very little, but intake was accurately detected down to levels of less than 30 g/d. The results are discussed in relation to possible sources of error, particularly day-to-day variations in individual intake.

Herbage intake and production of Merino sheep grazing native and improved pastures at different stocking rates

1974 ◽  
Vol 14 (68) ◽  
pp. 307 ◽  
Author(s):  
JP Langlands ◽  
JE Bowles
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Digestible Organic Matter ◽  
Native Pastures ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Improved Pasture

Estimates were made of the herbage intake, nutritive value of the diet, liveweight, wool production, efficiency of wool production and fleece characteristics of fine wool merino sheep grazing native pastures at stocking rates of 1.9, 3.7 and 5.6 sheep ha-1. The effects of increased stocking rates on these variables, and differences between improved and native pastures were examined by regression analysis. Organic matter digestibility declined with increasing stocking rate and was consistently less on native than on improved pasture as were the N content and the ratio, N : organic matter digestibility in the diet. Organic matter intake/sheep did not differ between pasture types or stocking rates, but digestible organic matter, digestible nitrogen and nitrogen intakes were less on native pasture, and paralleled seasonal changes in nutritive value, minimum values being recorded in late winter. Both wool production/sheep and liveweight were greater on improved pastures. Wool production ha-1 was 4 to 10 times greater on improved than on native pastures at stocking rates at which wool production/sheep were similar. Efficiency of wool production expressed as g wool/100 g digestible organic matter consumed was greater on improved pasture but when expressed/100 g nitrogen intake, sheep grazing native pasture were more efficient. Possible reasons are discussed. The maintenance requirements for energy appeared to be similar on both types of pasture. Fleeces produced on native pastures were generally lighter with shorter staple lengths, and appeared to be one spinning count finer than those produced on improved pasture. They were also superior in terms of softness and colour but were less uniform.

Supplementary feeding pattern and rate of liveweight gain in winter-spring affect wool production of young Merino sheep on the south coast of Western Australia

1995 ◽  
Vol 35 (8) ◽  
pp. 1093 ◽  
Author(s):  
PT Doyle ◽  
TW Plaisted ◽  
RA Love
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Supplementary Feeding ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Staple Strength ◽  
Stocking Rates

The effects of different supplementary feeding practices in summer-autumn and management strategies on green pasture on liveweight change, wool growth rate, annual wool production and wool characteristics of young Merino wethers were examined at 2 farms. The grain feeding treatments were lupins (L) or lupins and oats (LO) fed in amounts that were adjusted to try and maintain liveweight, or lupins and oats (LOG) fed at a higher rate. The objectives of liveweight maintenance or gain were not always achieved, but liveweight patterns differed between LOG compared with L or LO during summer-autumn. The sheep used at farm 1 were aged 4.5 months and liveweight 32 kg at the start of the experiment, while those at farm 2 were 6.5 months and liveweight 39 kg. The stocking rate in summer-autumn was 8 wethers/ha at both farms. During supplementation, sheep on LOG had a higher (P<0.05) liveweight change compared with those on L or LO (farm 1, 15 v. -8 g/sheep. day; farm 2, -35 v. -51 g/sheep. day) and clean wool growth rates (farm 1, 7.1 v. 6.4 g/sheep. day; farm 2, 5.1 v. 4.8 g/sheep.day). The sheep on LOG grew broader (P<0.05) wool than those on L or LO (farm 1, 19.0 v. 18.5 �m; farm 2, 21.7 v. 20.8 �m), and at farm 1 length was also greater (P<0.05) (114 v. 111 mm), while at farm 2 staple strength was greater (P<0.01) (22.9 v. 16.4 N/ktex). There were no significant differences in annual clean wool production. There were positive (P<0.01) relationships between staple strength and liveweight change to the time of minimum liveweight in summer-autumn. After green pasture on offer reached 500 kg DM/ha in autumn, different liveweight change patterns were achieved in 2 groups (LS, lower stocking rates; HS, higher stocking rates) of sheep at each farm by adjusting stocking rates. Within a farm, the LS and HS groups were comprised of equal numbers of sheep from each replicate of the supplementary feeding treatments. There were differences (P<0.05 to 0.01) in liveweight change between LS and HS (farm 1, 93 v. 72 g/day; farm 2, 127 v. 60 g/day), the differences being more pronounced at farm 2. The differential stocking rates at farm 2 resulted in differences in clean wool growth rates (P<0.01), in clean wool production (4.22 v. 4.53 kg, P<0.05), and fibre diameter (20.8 v. 21.4 �m, P<0.01), but there were no significant effects on staple length or strength. There were no significant effects of the supplementary feeding treatments imposed in summer-autumn on the responses to the stocking rate treatments on green pasture.

Effect of chemical removal of grasses from pasture leys on pasture and sheep production

1987 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 349 ◽  
Author(s):  
CW Thorn ◽  
MW Perry
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Annual Grass ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Annual Grasses ◽  
Sheep Production ◽  
Stocking Rates

Pasture production, pasture composition and quality, and liveweight, body condition and wool growth of Merino weaner wethers were monitored over 2 seasons and at 2 stocking rates (4 and 8 sheep/ha) on a mixed annual grass-legume pasture sprayed with propyzamide to control grasses. Propyzamide virtually eliminated annual grasses from the pasture (less than 5 kg/ha of grass dry matter in spring v. 403 kg/ha on untreated pasture in 1981) and this carried over into the second season (61 kg/ha v. 647 kg/ha in spring 1982). Propyzamide treated pastures had less total dry matter (P = 0.05) throughout 1981: however, except for a single sample date, there was no effect of propyzamide on total available pasture in the second season. Increased growth of clover and capeweed compensated for the absence of the grasses. The higher stocking rate reduced available clover, capeweed and total dry matter (P = 0.05) throughout both years. Sheep grazing grass-free pastures had lower liveweights during winter in both years, but made compensatory gains during late spring and summer consistent with the higher quality (1.6 v. 1.07% nitrogen when sampled in January) of propyzamide treated pastures. In 198 1, wool growth rates were reduced at the higher stocking rate and total clean wool production was reduced from 4.55 kg/sheep at 4/ha to 3.65 kg/sheep at 8/ha. Pasture treatment had no effect on wool production in either year. The implications of using selective herbicides to remove the annual grass component of legume-based annual pastures in south-western Australia are dis cussed in relation to pasture and sheep production.

Efficiency of wool production of grazing sheep. 3. The use of sulphur-containing amino acids to stimulate wool growth

1970 ◽  
Vol 10 (47) ◽  
pp. 665 ◽  
Author(s):  
JP Langlands
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Peritoneal Cavity ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Grazing Sheep ◽  
Native Pastures

Merino sheep grazing native and improved pastures were given up to 2.2 g DL-methionine each day through an abomasal cannula. Wool growth of sheep grazing improved and native pastures was increased significantly by up to 30 and 41 per cent respectively. Nine sheep with abomasal camulae were maintained in pens, and were infused into the abomasum with 7 g DL-methionine per week given on either one, two, or seven days each week. Wool growth was significantly increased by daily infusions of DL-methionine but the response was less when the methionine was given on only one or two days each week. Dorset Horn wethers were given single injections of up to 50 g DL-methionine or L-cystine subcutaneously or into the peritoneal cavity. The rate of excretion of urinary sulphur was recorded following the injection. DL-methionine was rapidly excreted but L-cystine was excreted more slowly. In a series of trials quantities of DL-methionine, methionine hydroxy analogue (MHA) or L-cystine were injected subcutaneously or intra-peritoneally into grazing Merino sheep. DL-methionine did not increase wool growth and MHA was toxic. Twenty-eight g L-cystine given as two compressed pellets each month into the peritoneal cavity increased wool growth by approximately 22 per cent over the 8-week experim6ntal period.

Wool growth in sheep fed diets based on wheat straw and protein supplements

1992 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 285 ◽  
Author(s):  
JB Coombe
Keyword(s):  
Wheat Straw ◽  
Volatile Fatty Acid ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Rapeseed Meal ◽  
Sunflower Meal ◽  
Protein Supplements ◽  
Post Feeding ◽  
Rumen Ph ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Ruminal Degradation

Wool growth of sheep fed wheat straw and various nitrogen (N) supplements was studied in two experiments lasting 16-20 weeks. In experiment 1, penned Crossbred wethers were fed wheat straw supplemented with urea (36 g kg-1 straw) and starch, or equivalent (N basis) amounts of formaldehyde-treated (F) casein (FCAS), rapeseed meal (RSM) or F-treated RSM or sunflower meal (FRSM and FSFM), all at the same total DM intake of c. 1240 g day-1. They produced from 7.9 to 13.9 g clean dry wool (CDW) day-1, and gained from 40 to 100 g day-1 for the urea and FCAS diets respectively. Mean digestibilities of organic matter (OM) and cell wall constituents were 0.53 and 0.42, with few differences between diets, while N digestibility of the FRSM diet (0.76) was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than all others (mean 0.89). During 1-6 h post-feeding, mean rumen pH and volatile fatty acid levels (6.43 and 55.2 mM respectively) were similar for all diets, whereas rumen ammonia levels were significantly (P < 0.01) higher with the urea and RSM supplements compared with the F-treated supplements. In experiment 2, penned Merino wethers fed 770 g DM day-1 of the urea-supplemented diet produced 5.0 g CDW day-1 and lost 50 g live weight day-1. In other sheep, fed at the same DM intake on wheat straw plus increasing levels (c. 70-350 g sheep-1 day-1) of an FRSM supplement, wool growth was quadratically related to supplement-N intake, with a maximum of 10.1 g CDW day-1 at a N intake of 15.6 g day-1. Digestibility of OM and N balance were significantly (P < 0.05) reduced at FRSM levels < 127 g sheep-1 day-1, while mean rumen ammonia levels during 6 h post-feeding remained < 70 mg N L-1 at FRSM levels < 183 g sheep-1 day-1. It was concluded that protein supplements resistant to ruminal degradation will substantially increase wool production in sheep fed straw diets at approximately maintenance levels.

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