Winter feeding of the in-lamb ewe

1959 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 102-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. V. Large ◽  
F. E. Alder ◽  
C. R. W. Spedding
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Live Weight Gain ◽  
Mild Winter ◽  
Feeding Experiments ◽  
The Difference ◽  
One Year ◽  
Winter Feeding

1. Three winter feeding experiments (1954–57) were carried out using small flocks of Border Leicester x Cheviot ewes tupped by a Suffolk ram.2. The feeds used were various combinations of (a) silage, (b) hay, (c) ‘winter grass’, and (d)concentrates. Their value in late pregnancy was compared in terms of performance of the ewe and the birth weight of the lambs.3. In addition, in one year (1956–57) the effect of level of nutrition in early pregnancy and during the first 28 days of lactation was studied.4. It was found that ‘winter grass’ could replace silage and hay where a concentrate ration was being fed.5. Satisfactory results were obtained with a concentrate ration of ⅜ lb. per head per day rising to ¾ lb. per head per day by lambing time.6. In the mild winter of 1956–57 a group of ewes produced normal healthy lambs when fed entirely on ‘winter grass’ during the latter half of pregnancy.7. The intensity of grazing of the ewes in early pregnancy affected their live-weight gain, but this seemed to have little effect on lamb production.8. A high plane of nutrition during early lactation resulted in a significantly greater live-weight gain of lambs over this period. The difference had been reduced to a non-significant level by mid-June.9. None of the treatments imposed had any very marked effect on the nematode egg-output of the ewes.

The effect of winter food level on compensatory growth of weaned, suckled calves grazed at two sward heights

1986 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 211-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. A. Wright ◽  
A. J. F. Russel ◽  
E. A. Hunter
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Compensatory Growth ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Food Level ◽  
Live Weight Gain ◽  
Subsequent Performance ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Winter Food ◽  
Weight Gains ◽  
Winter Feeding

ABSTRACTTwo experiments were conducted with weaned, suckled calves to investigate the effect of feeding level during the post-weaning winter on their subsequent performance when continuously grazed on pasture maintained at two sward heights. Low, medium and high levels of winter feeding resulted in winter live-weight gains of 0·31, 0·58 and 0·79 (s.e. 0·027) kg/day (P < 0·001) during the 152-day winter in experiment 1 and 0·44, 0·69 and 0·84 (s.e. 0·029) kg/day (P < 0·001) for 189 days in experiment 2. During summer (93 days in experiment 1 and 87 days in experiment 2) there was a significant effect of winter food level on performance when live-weight gains were 1·10, 1·02, 0·87 and 1·35, 1·23 and 1·19 (s.e. 0·060) kg/day for the low, medium and high winter food levels on the short and tall swards respectively in experiment 1 (P < 0·01) and 0·86, 0·66, 0·51 and 1·26, 1·18 and 0·91 (s.e. 0090) kg/day in experiment 2 (P < 0·001). The cattle showing compensatory growth had higher herbage intakes and it is postulated that this occurred because of a negative association between body fat and herbage intake. Sward height had a large positive effect on herbage intake and live-weight gain and it is concluded that for maximum intake on ryegrass swards, herbage height should be at least 8 cm. Lower levels of winter live-weight gain delayed the time to slaughter, but allowed cattle to achieve heavier carcass weights at a fixed level of fatness.It is concluded that there is no single optimum winter food level for weaned, suckled calves but that the choice will depend upon several factors, including availability of winter and summer food resources, the length of the winter feeding period, the desired date of slaughter and type of carcass to be produced.

The effects of calcium and phosphorus supplementation on the performance of Scottish Blackface hill ewes, with particular reference to the premature loss of permanent incisor teeth

1969 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
pp. 371-378 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. G. Gunn
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Treatment Period ◽  
Alveolar Bone ◽  
Recovery Period ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
The Body ◽  
Mineral Supplement ◽  
Small Individual ◽  
Live Weight Gain

SUMMARYA subclinical calcium or phosphorus dietary deficiency on many hill pastures and a relationship between this and the premature loss of permanent incisor teeth are postulated. The effects of small individual supplements of calcium (12 g calcium carbonate suspended in water) or phosphorus (13 g monosodium phosphate in solution) supplied three times a week between mid-February and the end of May to Scottish Blackface ewes which grazed reseeded pasture in April and May were compared with those of no mineral supplement and with those of no mineral supplementon hill pastures throughout.Neither supplement had any significant effect on the number or weights of lambs born or reared on reseeded pastures. Both resulted in significantly greater ewe live-weight gain during the treatment period, in a significant improvement in the firmness and permanence of the incisor teeth, and in significantly higher serum Ca levels during lactation. All effects increased with advancing age.The use of hill pastures during late pregnancy and early lactation without any mineral supplement could result in significantly poorer ewe live-weight gain during the treatment period depending on season. This was also associated with significantly lighter single lambs at 6 weeks and with slower deterioration of the incisor teeth.It is suggested that minerals lost from the body during lactation on reseeded pastures are not replaced during the autumn recovery period on hill pastures and that a gradual depletion occurs throughout life, leading possibly to demineralization of the alveolar bone and premature loss of the incisor teeth. It is suggested that this is indicative of a higher mineral requirement for maintenance of the permanent dentition than is necessary for normal acceptable growth andreproductive performance. Mineral content of hill herbage may therefore be too low to supply requirements at the levels of OM intake normal on hill pastures.

Fattening studies with cross-bred (European×Zebu) bulls: 1. Performance on diets of native hay and concentrate

1978 ◽  
Vol 90 (2) ◽  
pp. 425-429 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. B. O'Donovan ◽  
A. Gebrewolde ◽  
B. Kebede ◽  
E. S. E. Galal
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Maximum Temperature ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Live Weight Gain ◽  
The Third ◽  
Feeding Experiments ◽  
Group Feeding ◽  
Feeding Trials

SummaryTwo group-feeding and one individual-feeding experiments were made for 112 and 182 days, respectively, with 76 cross-bred and eight Zebu bulls. Simmental, Friesian and Jersey sire breeds were mated to three Ethiopian Zebu breeds, namely Boran, Horro and Barca, while Zebu bulls were included for comparison purposes in Expt 3. The trials were conducted in confinement at Holetta Research Station, located at 2400 m elevation and having a mean maximum temperature range of 18·7–24 °C. In the group-feeding trials (Expts 1 and 2) a common diet was fed, consisting of native hay (30%) molasses (20%) and a concentrate supplement. In the third experiment, two diets containing 30 and 50% native hay were supplemented by concentrate and fed individually to eight Simmental and eight Friesian cross bulls, while eight Zebus served as a control.The average daily gains, feed intake and conversion did not differ markedly between Simmental and Friesian crosses, but lower values were generally found for Jersey crosses. Cross-breds outgained Zebus, consumed more feed and converted it more efficiently to live-weight gain. Performance differences were noted between the Zebu breeds as well as some evidence of sire × dam breed interactions. Significantly higher gains were achieved with the low than with the high roughage diet.

A study of protein requirements of housed Scottish Blackface ewes during late pregnancy

1971 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 643-651 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. H. McClelland ◽  
T. J. Forbes
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Protein Intake ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Nitrogen Retention ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Apparent Digestibility ◽  
Live Weight Gain ◽  
Digestible Crude Protein

SUMMARYIn-lamb ewes were given 38, 58 and 82 g of digestible crude protein daily at a constant energy intake of 1600 kcal ME per head daily during the last 6 weeks of gestation. There were no significant differences between treatments in live-weight gain of the ewes, lamb birth weight or ewe net body-weight change (the difference between live-weight gain over the experimental period and live-weight loss at lambing).Digestibility coefficients for the diet components and nitrogen balances were determined on three ewes per treatment during weeks 15-16 and 19·20 of gestation. No differences in the apparent digestibility of the diet components were observed between the two periods. The apparent digestibility of crude protein increased significantly (P > 0·001) with increase in crude protein intake. A significant linear relationship (P<0·01) was found between digestible crude protein intake and nitrogen retention; daily N retention increased by 0·19 g per kg W0·73 for every 1 g per kg W0·73 of apparent digested nitrogen intake per day.

Beef production from silage 2. The performance of beef cattle given silages of either perennial ryegrass or red clover

1981 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Thomas ◽  
B. G. Gibbs ◽  
J. C. Tayler
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Live Weight Gain ◽  
Primary Growth ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Rate Of Decline

ABSTRACT1. A primary growth of perennial ryegrass was cut on 8 to 11 May (early) or on 12 June (late) for comparison with the primary growth of a tetraploid red clover, which was cut either on 1 or 2 June (early) or on 28 June (late). The crops were ensiled, after wilting for about 4h, with the addition of formic acid at 2·21/t fresh crop. The silages were given ad libitum alone or with rolled barley at 11·5 g dry matter per kg live weight to 40 British Friesian steers initially 3 months old and 108 kg live weight.2. On average there was no significant difference in digestibility between perennial ryegrass and red clover. However, the rate of decline in digestibility with time was greater with perennial ryegrass than with red clover.3. Calves given silage of red clover as the sole feed ate more dry matter and grew faster than calves given grass silage (P <0·001) but supplementation with barley reduced the intake of red clover silage to a greater extent than that of perennial ryegrass silage. Barley supplementation increased live-weight gain of calves given perennial ryegrass from 0·32 to 0·83 kg/day and that of calves given red clover from 0·63 to 0·99 kg/day (interaction P <0·05). The results did not indicate a higher net efficiency of utilization of the legume. Date of cut had no significant effect on dry-matter intake but earlier cutting resulted in an increase in live-weight gain from a mean of 0·61 to 0·77 kg/day (P <0·001).4. The results show that high rates of live-weight gain (0·74 kg/day) can be achieved by calves given silage of red clover and that earlier cutting of herbage for silage does not always result in higher intakes of dry matter. Supplementation of silages with barley can reduce markedly the difference in intake and live-weight gain apparent when the silages are given as sole feeds.

Further studies of hexoestrol implantation of Blackface wether lambs

1961 ◽  
Vol 3 (03) ◽  
pp. 295-300
Author(s):  
R. H. Armstrong ◽  
A. E. Cameron
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Carcass Weight ◽  
Live Weight Gain ◽  
Series Of Experiments ◽  
The Difference

1. In the summer of 1958, 15 mg. of hexoestrol was administered to Blackface wether lambs in one of the following ways; 5 mg. before weaning followed by two 5 mg. tablets at weaning, three 5 mg. tablets at weaning, and thirdly a single 15 mg. tablet at weaning. In a further series of experiments in 1959 the effect of both raising the pre-weaning implantation to 10 mg., and the total hexoestrol dosage to 20 mg. was studied.2. Suckled lambs implanted with 5 mg. of hexoestrol at the milk clip gained significantly more in live-weight (18%) up to weaning in 1958 than did untreated lambs; in 1959 the difference was only 11%.3. Between weaning and the end of the trial all treatments with the exception of that in which hexoestrol dosage was raised to 20 mg. showed a very highly significant increase in live-weight gain over untreated lambs, the increases ranging from 26 % to 54%.4. In neither year was the overall gain in live-weight from pre-weaning to the end of the trial significantly increased by implanting part of the hexoestrol dose prior to weaning.5. Live-weight gain of the lambs was not significantly increased when three 5 mg. tablets of hexoestrol replaced a single 15 mg. tablet.6. The implanting of lambs with 20 mg. hexoestrol failed to give a response superior to that obtained with 15 mg. hexoestrol.7. Each group of lambs receiving hexoestrol treatment showed an increased average carcass weight.

The effects of two levels of protein in the compound diet and of implantation with oestradiol - 17 β during the finishing period of friesian and hereford cross friesian steers

1988 ◽  
Vol 1984 ◽  
pp. 91-91
Author(s):  
W S Thicket ◽  
N H Cuthbert ◽  
J Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Slow Release ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Live Weight Gain ◽  
Release Form ◽  
Winter Feeding

The introduction of the hormonal implant,oestradiol - 17 β in a slow release form (Compudose 365 Elanco) offers the benefit in an “18 month” beef system of improved live-weight gain of steers at grass, continued during the final finishing period without further handling and cost. In this trial the persistence of the benefit over a 12 month period and of any interaction with the level of protein fed in the compound diet during the last 4 months of winter feeding was examined.

The influence of level of concentrate feeding on the voluntary intake of grass and on live-weight gain by cattle

1972 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Tayler ◽  
J. M. Wilkinson
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Body Weight Gain ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Linear Increase ◽  
Live Weight Gain ◽  
Feeding Experiments ◽  
Gut Fill ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
The Relationship

SUMMARYGrazing and stall-feeding experiments were conducted to examine the effect of giving different amounts of cereal-protein concentrate with grass on the live-weight gain of cattle initially 6 months of age. The effect of level of concentrate on grass intake was also studied in the indoor trial. Experiment 1 took place at pasture, with two stocking rates (high and low) and three levels of supplementation at each stocking rate. The response to supplementation, and rate of live-weight gain by the unsupplemented groups was similar at both stocking rates for a 101-day period from late April to mid-August. The results are discussed in relation to other pasture supplementation experiments, and to those obtained in the indoor experiment. Experiment 2 (stall-feeding) consisted of five levels of concentrate feeding from zero to 100% of the diet. There was little increase in total intake as the proportion of concentrate in the diet increased, and the relationship between grass intake and concentrate intake was rectilinear.Gut fill estimates are presented for each level of concentrate feeding, and results for empty body-weight gain are discussed in relation to live-weight gains. There was a linear increase in weight gain with increasing proportion of concentrate in the diet. Empty body-weight gain is recommended as a less biased assessment of the response of cattle to concentrates given with pasture or forages.

scholarly journals Raising lambs on natural and cultivated pastures in the conditions of Lapland

1981 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 146-151
Author(s):  
Liisa Syrjälä
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Live Weight Gain ◽  
Natural Pasture ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Better Than

The growth of lambs on natural and cultiavated pastures was studied in 1979—1980 in northern Lapland at 69°40’ N and 27° 05’ E. The natural pasture was a peninsula covered by various wild grasses, bearing willow and birth and with sedge and horsetail by the shore. On the cultivated pasture timothy predominated. The experiments started in mid June, when the age of the lambs averaged three months, and lasted to mid September. During that time, the animals received no supplemental feeds. The grazing density on the natural pasture was 1.5—3.2 lambs/ha and on the cultivated pasture 15—20 lambs/ha. The lambs on the natural pasture grew significantly slower (P < 0.05) than those on the cultivated pasture. The difference in live-weight gain was especially marked in June and from the beginning of August. In lambs moved from the natural pasture to the cultivated pasture in mid August the growth rate was somewhat better than in lambs kept on the natural pasture throughout, but growth diminished in all the lambs in September. The slaughter criteria were also better for the lambs on the cultivated pasture than for the others.

Environmental and managerial factors affecting the growth of Friesian heifers from six months of age to calving

1968 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Ridler ◽  
W. H. Broster
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
Compensatory Growth ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Live Weight Gain ◽  
Coefficients Of Variation ◽  
The Relationship

SummaryThe growth of 120 Friesian heifers born into one herd over a period of 12 years was studied for the period from 6 months of age to calving at about 30–35 months of age. Live weights were recorded weekly and rates of live-weight gain were calculated for each 3-month period for each animal. Δt 6, 12, 18, and 24 months of age the heifers weighed 360, 590, 800 and 950 lb. The coefficients of variation of live weight did not vary with age and averaged ±10·0%. Coefficients of variation of live-weight gain increased from ± 20% at 6–9 months of age to ±60% at 24–27 months of age. Growth rate declined by 0·02 lb/day from 12 months to 30 months of age for animals under constant managerial conditions. Heifers wintered indoors grew faster than those wintered outdoors. The growth of younger animals was decreased more by outdoor wintering (a reduction of 0·6 lb/day at 15 months) than was the growth rate of older animals (a reduction of 0·3 lb/day at 21 months of age). When live-weight gain was low in winter there was marked compensatory growth at grass the following summer. Pregnant heifers grew 0·1 lb/day faster in early pregnancy and 0·6 lb/day faster in the last 4 months of pregnancy than did barren heifers.There was no appreciable difference between the live-weight gain of spring- and autumn-born heifers. With an autumn calving policy spring-born heifers were served and conceived 135 days earlier and weighed 106 lb less at calving than did autumn-born heifers. There was little difference in the milk yield of the two groups in 305 days of the first lactation.The regression equation of live weight (lb) on age (months) to 3rd calving was W = 1449 – 2027 e-0·042t. It was concluded that in the interests of economic rearing the dairy farmer could with advantage exercise greater control of the relationship between nutrition and growth during high cost winter periods and low cost summer periods.

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