Effect of condensed tannins upon body growth, wool growth and rumen metabolism in sheep grazing sulla (Hedysarum coronarium) and perennial pasture

1992 ◽  
Vol 119 (2) ◽  
pp. 265-273 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. H. Terrill ◽  
G. B. Douglas ◽  
A. G. Foote ◽  
R. W. Purchas ◽  
G. F. Wilson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
Condensed Tannins ◽  
Rumen Fluid ◽  
High Ratio ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Body Growth ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Rumen Metabolism ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Hedysarum Coronarium

SUMMARYAreas of sulla (Hedysarum coronarium) and pasture (Lolium perenne/Trifolium repens/Holcus lanatus) were grazed by young sheep (29·5–34·8 kg initial liveweight) in four experiments, and effects upon body growth, wool growth and rumen metabolism were measured.Sulla contained 40–50 g condensed tannins (CT)/kg DM, whilst the pasture contained small amounts of CT (2–6 g/kg DM). After chewing during eating, a lower proportion of total CT was readily extractable and greater proportions were protein-bound and fibre-bound. Nutritional effects attributable to CT were assessed by oral administration of polyethylene glycol (PEG), which binds and inactivates CT, to half the animals grazing each forage. Rates of body growth were consistently higher for lambs grazing sulla than those grazing pasture, with the CT concentration in sulla being neither stimulatory or inhibitory to body growth or voluntary feed intake (VFI). The action of CT reduced carcass fatness in sheep fed both diets, in the one experiment where this was measured. CT present in both sulla and pasture decreased rumen ammonia concentration and decreased molar proportions of iso-butyrate and iso and n-valerate. During spring and early summer, when wool growth rates were highest, CT present in both pasture and sulla increased wool growth rate; when wool growth rates were low during winter, CT had no effect upon the wool growth of sheep grazing either forage. Numbers of protozoa and molar proportions of n-butyrate in rumen fluid were increased by CT in sheep grazing sulla but not pasture.It was concluded that the higher rates of body growth and VFI in lambs grazing sulla was most likely to be due to its very high ratio of readily fermentable: structural carbohydrate.

scholarly journals Sheep production and agronomic performance of Lotus corniculatus under dryland farming

2003 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 109-115
Author(s):  
T.N. Barry ◽  
P.D. Kemp ◽  
C.A. Ramirez-Restrepo ◽  
N. Lopezvillalobos
Keyword(s):  
Condensed Tannins ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Lotus Corniculatus ◽  
Body Growth ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Weaning Weight ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Dryland Farming ◽  
Wool Growth

Lotus corniculatus (lotus) contains condensed tannins (CT; 25-35 g/kg DM), which reduce the microbial degradation of forage protein in the rumen and increase amino acid absorption from the small intestine. In grazing experiments at Palmerston North during the 1990s, sheep grazing L. corniculatus had superior wool production, body growth and ovulation rates (OR) relative to sheep grazing lucerne (Medicago sativa) or perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)/white clover (Tritolium repens) pasture. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) drenching studies showed that action of CT was responsible for a component of the increases in wool growth and OR, but not body growth, and increased milk yield in lactating ewes. The 'Massey lotus' programme moved in 2000 to Riverside farm in the Wairarapa, where L. corniculatus is more agronomically suited, and its integration into dryland farming systems is being studied. We aim to develop systems that increase animal productivity whilst also reducing chemical input, notably of anthelmintic drenches. In two experiments conducted over 12 weeks in spring, ewes and lambs grazing L. corniculatus without pre-lamb drenching had lower faecal egg counts (FEC) and lower dag scores than ewes and lambs grazing pasture. Also, liveweight gain (+44%), weaning weight (+26%) and wool production (+32%) were greater for lambs grazing lotus. Weaned lambs grazing L. corniculatus over 14 weeks in summer grew faster than those grazing pasture (298 cf. 201 g/day) when regularly drenched. Reduction of anthelmintic drenching reduced the growth rates of lambs grazing L. corniculatus, but at 228 g/day this was still much faster than those grazing pasture (187 g/day). Lambs grazing L. corniculatus with restricted anthelmintic grew slightly faster than regularly drenched lambs grazing pasture. In addition, ewes mated on L. corniculatus had greater ovulation rates, lambing % and weaning % (approximately 25%) than ewes mated on pasture. Lamb weaning weight was unaffected by the ewes grazing L. corniculatus during mating, but mortality rate during the period from birth to weaning was lower for lambs that were conceived when their dams were grazing lotus. Annual (dry matter) production under grazing averaged over two years (2000-2001), was 9.5 t/ha for L. corniculatus and 8.6 t/ha for pasture. The percentages of annual production that occurred in spring, summer, autumn and winter were 49, 40, 8 and 4%, respectively, for L. corniculatus and 55, 30, 9 and 6%, respectively, for pasture. L. corniculatus has potential as a specialist feed in dryland farming systems for use during mating to increase subsequent lambing percentage and to increase lamb growth while reducing anthelmintic use. The result is more lambs being drafted at an earlier age. Key words: agronomy, body growth, condensed tannins, dry matter yield, Lotus corniculatus, reproduction, sheep, withdrawing anthelmintic, wool growth

The use of urea-molasses supplements for sheep grazing semi-arid tropical pastures

1974 ◽  
Vol 14 (66) ◽  
pp. 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
KW Entwistle ◽  
G Knights
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
Reproductive Factors ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Tropical Pastures ◽  
Nitrogen Levels ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Urea Group ◽  
Semi Arid

The performance of unsupplemented Merino ewes grazing dry season semi-arid tropical pastures was compared with that of other sheep supplemented with either urea-molasses or molasses. Over the experimental period from September 1970 until late January 1971 mean daily intakes per head of urea and molasses respectively were: low urea group, 11.7 g and 35.1 g; high urea group, 15.2 g and 45.6 g; molasses, 38.9 g. Monthly estimates of the proportions of animals consuming the supplement over the period September to January varied from: urea-molasses-71 per cent to 97 per cent; molasses-75 per cent to 96 per cent. Unsupplemented sheep lost significantly more liveweight than did supplemented groups in the period September to February. However, during the period of greatest nutritional stress from December to February, sheep recewing molasses lost significantly more weight than did those supplemented with urea-molasses, and liveweight loss was greater in the low urea group than in the high urea group. Wool growth rates were significantly higher in groups receiving urea-molasses, with highest wool growth rates in animals on the high level of urea. Total fleece weights were unaffected by treatment as were the reproductive factors examined. Faecal nitrogen levels declined until the onset of pasture regrowth in February and were associated with low digestibility of the available forage. Compensatory liveweight gains following pasture regrowth outweighed any advantage of the dry season supplementation. It was concluded that urea-molasses supplements were of little direct benefit to sheep grazing these pastures.

Effect of condensed tannins upon the performance of lambs grazing Lotus corniculatus and lucerne (Medicago sativa)

1996 ◽  
Vol 126 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Wang ◽  
G. B. Douglas ◽  
G. C. Waghorn ◽  
T. N. Barry ◽  
A. G. Foote ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medicago Sativa ◽  
Condensed Tannins ◽  
Volatile Fatty Acids ◽  
Rumen Fluid ◽  
Lotus Corniculatus ◽  
Ammonia Concentration ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Oral Supplementation ◽  
Voluntary Feed Intake ◽  
Wool Growth

SUMMARYA grazing experiment, conducted for 22 weeks in 1992/93 at Aorangi Research Station, AgResearch Grasslands, Manawatu, New Zealand, compared the productivity of weaned lambs grazing Lotus corniculatus (birdsfoot trefoil) and lucerne (Medicago sativa). Effects of condensed tannins (CT) in lotus were evaluated by studying the responses of lambs to twice daily oral supplementation with polyethylene glycol (PEG). A rotational grazing system with restricted feed allowance was used. Measurements were made of pre- and post-grazing herbage mass, the composition of the feed on offer and diet selected, voluntary feed intake (VFI), liveweight gain (LWG), carcass growth, wool growth and the concentration of metabolites in rumen fluid. For both lotus and lucerne swards, the diet selected was mainly leaf. Lotus contained 34 g total CT/kg dry matter in the diet selected, whilst there were essentially no CT in lucerne. Compared to lambs grazing lucerne, lambs grazing lotus had slightly lower VFI, and higher LWG, carcass weight gain, carcass dressing-out percentage and wool growth. PEG supplementation had no effect on these measurements or upon the composition of rumen fluid in lambs grazing lucerne. However, in lambs grazing lotus, PEG supplementation reduced wool growth (10·9 ν. 12·1 g/day), slightly reduced LWG (188 ν. 203 g/day), increased rumen ammonia concentration, and increased the molar proportions of /.so-butyric, isovaleric and n-valeric acids and protozoa numbers in rumen fluid. PEG supplementation did not affect carcass gain, carcass fatness or the molar proportion of rumen acetic, propionic or n-butyric acids in lambs grazing lotus. It was concluded that the principal effect of CT in growing lambs grazing lotus was to increase wool growth without affecting VFI, thereby increasing the efficiency of wool production, that the greater rate of carcass gain of lambs grazing lotus than those grazing lucerne was mainly caused by factors other than CT and that CT did not affect the rumen fermentation of carbohydrate to major volatile fatty acids.

scholarly journals The role of condensed tannins in the nutritional value of Lotus pedunculatus for sheep

1985 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 211-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. N. Barry
Keyword(s):  
White Clover ◽  
Condensed Tannins ◽  
Condensed Tannin ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Low Fertility ◽  
High Fertility ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Lotus Pedunculatus ◽  
High Concentrations

1. Lotus pedunculatus (cv. Grasslands Maku) grown on acid low-fertility soil and containing high concentrations of condensed tannin (76–90 g/kg dry matter (DM)) was grazed by growing sheep for 31–42 d periods in three experiments. In Expt 2 an additional group of lambs grazed areas oversown with white clover (Trifolium repens) and red clover (Trifolium pratense). Lambs were transferred from grazing ryegrass (Lolium perenne) – white clover straight on to lotus in all experiments (unconditioned sheep). In Expt 3 a second group was included which had grazed high-tannin lotus for a pre-experimental period of 8 weeks (conditioned sheep).2. Effects of condensed tannin on body and wool growth were assessed by studying responses to daily oral administration of polyethylene glycol (PEG; molecular weight 3350, 75–100 g/d). PEG forms a complex with condensed tannin, which is assumed to be inert in its passage through the digestive system, and so effectively reduces the nutritional effects attributable to high condensed-tannin concentrations.3. Live-weight gain (LWG) in the absence of PEG was low (27–125 g/d) for sheep grazing high-tannin lotus, and PEG administration increased LWG by 41–61 g/d and increased wool growth. In Expt 3, responses to PEG supplementation tended to be less with conditioned than with unconditioned sheep, indicating that conditioned sheep had partially adapted to the high-tannin diet.4. PEG supplementation had no effect on either LWG or wool growth of sheep grazing areas oversown with mixed clovers, confirming its effects as specific to forages containing condensed tannins. These experiments therefore conclusively show that high concentrations of condensed tannin induced by growing Lotus pedunculatus under low soil fertility conditions prevent maximum expression of LWG and wool growth in grazing sheep. These results contrast with high LWG (153–315 g/d) observed in growing sheep grazing the same lotus cultivar grown in high fertility soil and containing 20 g condensed tannin/kg DM, a level considered to be nutritionally beneficial.

Growth and gastrointestinal nematode parasitism in lambs grazing either lucerne (Medicago sativa) or sulla (Hedysarum coronarium) which contains condensed tannins

1995 ◽  
Vol 125 (2) ◽  
pp. 281-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. Niezen ◽  
T. S. Waghorn ◽  
W. A. G. Charleston ◽  
G. C. Waghorn
Keyword(s):  
Medicago Sativa ◽  
Condensed Tannins ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Parasite Burden ◽  
Superior Performance ◽  
Wool Fibre ◽  
Trichostrongylus Colubriformis ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Hedysarum Coronarium

SUMMARYTwo grazing experiments were undertaken to evaluate the effects of sulla (Hedysarum coronarium) which contains condensed tannins (CT) and lucerne (Medicago sativa), which does not contain CT, on the performance of parasitized and non-parasitized lambs. The work was carried out near Palmerston North, New Zealand in 1992 and 1993.Experiment 1 used lambs which were either genetically ‘conventional’ or ‘resistant’ to gastrointestinal nematodes and which had a naturally acquired heavy parasite burden (faecal egg count (FEC) 1300–2500 eggs per gram faeces (epg)). They were either drenched to remove all the parasites or remained undrenched when allocated to pure swards of either sulla or lucerne for the 28-day experimental period. Liveweight gains of drenched lambs were higher with sulla (mean 302 g/day) than with lucerne (mean 245 g/day; P < 0·02) and rates of gain were not reduced (P = 0·10) by genetic resistance to nematodes. Undrenched lambs had mean faecal egg counts of 1090–2220 epg after 28 days, with higher counts in lambs grazing lucerne than in those grazing sulla (P < 0·05). Lambs grazing lucerne also had a much lower average daily gain (ADG) (mean 50 g/day) than those grazing sulla (mean 206 g/day; P < 0·0001). Resistant lambs had reduced (P = 0·07) ADG in the sulla treatment only.In Expt 2, lambs with a relatively low worm burden (average FEC 250 epg) were either drenched to remove all worms or dosed with 20 000 Trichostrongylus colubriformis infective larvae and grazed on pure sulla or lucerne swards for 42 days. Drenched lambs had a similar liveweight gain (mean 190 g/day) and wool growth when grazing either sulla or lucerne. Undrenched lambs grazing sulla had a greater ADG (mean 129 g/day) than those grazing lucerne (mean −39 g/day; P < 0·0001) and a higher rate of wool growth from mid-side patches (P < 0·009) and larger wool fibre diameter (P < 0·05) than those grazing lucerne. Undrenched lambs grazing sulla had lower FECs (P < 0·05) on days 14, 21, 35 and 42 than those grazing lucerne and lower (P < 0·05) Trichostrongylus colubriformis worm burdens at slaughter. Undrenched lambs had less perineal faecal contamination when grazing sulla rather than lucerne. Parasite-induced anorexia was evident in the lambs grazing lucerne but not in those grazing sulla.These findings demonstrate that the performance of lambs infected with nematode parasites can vary substantially when given feeds of a similar chemical composition. The superior performance of lambs grazing sulla was probably caused by condensed tannins, which decrease protein degradation in the rumen and can increase post-ruminal protein availability.

scholarly journals Pasture growth and quality on Southland and Otago dairy farms

2012 ◽  
pp. 237-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.E. Dalley ◽  
T. Geddes
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Seasonal Variation ◽  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Annual Production ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Pasture Quality ◽  
Geographical Regions

There is debate on how pasture growth rates and annual production on dairy farms in Southland/Otago compare to the comprehensive data collected at AgResearch Woodlands under sheep grazing. Additionally, there are no good data on seasonal variation in dairy pasture quality from the region. Six farms in different geographical regions of Southland and south and west Otago were monitored from spring 2007 until May 2012 to measure pasture growth rate, soil temperature and pasture nutrient composition (with the exception of south Otago). Pasture growth rates varied between farms and between years. The highest growth rates were recorded in coastal Southland and the lowest in northern Southland. Rainfall and soil temperature differences explained some of the changes in pasture growth rate throughout the seasons. Sharp drops in pasture quality in early summer were recorded on all farms. Considerable variation in pasture growth rate occurs across the Southland/Otago regions. Times of year when the greatest variability occurs have now been identified for each region. Keywords: Southland, Otago, pasture growth, pasture quality, dairy

Offering subterranean clover can reduce methane emissions compared with perennial ryegrass pastures during late spring and summer in sheep

2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (11) ◽  
pp. 1449
Author(s):  
S. K. Muir ◽  
A. J. Kennedy ◽  
G. Kearney ◽  
P. Hutton ◽  
A. N. Thompson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Methane Emissions ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Late Spring ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Ch4 Emissions ◽  
South West

Sheep production systems in south-west Victoria are based predominantly on perennial ryegrass pastures, resulting in highly seasonal growth and declining feed quantity and nutritive value in late spring and summer. These changes result in reduced animal performance and increased CH4 emissions per kg DM intake. A potential alternative to the feedbase used in south-west Victoria that provides high quality and quantity of feed in late spring and early summer are legume-based pastures, such as clovers and lucerne. This experiment examined the impact of legume-based pastures on the growth rates and CH4 emissions of Maternal Composite ewes during late spring and early summer. In 2014, 240 Maternal Composite ewes grazed either perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), lucerne (Medicago sativa L.), subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) or arrowleaf clover (Trifolium vesiculosum Savi.) pastures for 6 weeks during late spring and early summer (November and December). Sheep grazing subterranean clover were heavier at the end of the experiment than sheep grazing perennial ryegrass. Methane measurements using portable accumulation chambers indicated lower daily CH4 emissions (g/day) from sheep grazing subterranean clover (23.5 g/day) than from sheep grazing lucerne (27.3 g/day) and perennial ryegrass (32.3 g/day) pastures. Methane emissions and liveweight changes appeared to be associated with the nutritive characteristics of the forage offered. Legume-based pastures provide sheep producers in south-west Victoria an option to increase growth rates and decrease CH4 emissions during a period when perennial ryegrass pastures are declining in nutritive value.

Trichostrongylosis and wool growth. 3. The wool growth response of resistant grazing sheep to larval challenge

1975 ◽  
Vol 15 (73) ◽  
pp. 167 ◽  
Author(s):  
IA Barger ◽  
WH Southcott
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
Growth Response ◽  
Moderate Level ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Trichostrongylus Colubriformis ◽  
Growth Depression ◽  
Intestinal Nematode ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Grazing Sheep ◽  
Presence And Absence

Wool growth rates of grazing sheep that were resistant to infection with the intestinal nematode Trichostrongylus colubriformis were measured in the presence and absence of a larval challenge. In one experiment, resistant sheep exposed to a moderate level of larval challenge grew 11 per cent less wool than unchallenged resistant sheep grazing the same paddock. A second experiment confirmed the previous results but showed that the magnitude of this wool growth depression did not depend on the severity of the challenge

scholarly journals Seasonal patterns of pasture production in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato

1991 ◽  
pp. 67-72
Author(s):  
J.A. Baars ◽  
G.J. Goold ◽  
M.F. Hawke ◽  
P.J. Kilgarriff ◽  
M.D. Rolm
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Growth Patterns ◽  
Climatic Data ◽  
Large Contribution ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Summer Peak ◽  
The Difference

Patterns of pasture growth were measured on 3 farms in the Bay of Plenty (BOP) and at No2 Dairy (Ruakura Agricultural Centre) in the Waikato from 1989 to 199 1. A standardised trim technique with cages and 4-weekly cutting under grazing was used. Long-term seasonal growth patterns, using a predictive pasture model, were also simulated. Simulated pasture growth from long-term climatic data shows that pasture growth rates are higher in winter, early spring and late autumn in the BOP than the Waikato. However, the actual measurements over the 2 years show that pasture growth over the latter periods is lower at the BOP sites than at the Waikato site. In the BOP the spring peak is much later than in the Waikato while an early summer peak, with higher growth rates than in the Waikato, occurred in the BOP. No such summer peak was evident in the Waikato. The difference between the two regions is caused by the large contribution of subtropical grasses to sward production in summer and autumn, The prolific summer growth of subtropical grasses may explain the low ryegrass content and low pasture production in winter. The lower than expected autumn, winter, spring production may also becaused by low clover content, possibly a result of competition from subtropical grasses and a sulphur deficiency. The apparent low amount of nitrogen fixed by clover may explain the low rates of pasture production over the cooler season. Applications of nitrogen fertiliser may substantially increase dry matter production from April to September. Keywords pasture,simulation,subtropical grasses, Paspalum, Digitaria sanguinalis, growth rates

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