Influence of grain supplements during winter on liveweight, mohair growth and mohair quality of weaner Angora goats

2010 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 593 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. A. McGregor ◽  
R. Harris ◽  
G. Denney
Keyword(s):  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Barley Grain ◽  
Supplementary Feeding ◽  
Pasture Management ◽  
Feeding Experiments ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Average Intake ◽  
Angora Goats ◽  
Fleece Weight

To identify methods to improve growth and mohair production of weaned Angora goats (mean liveweight 18–20 kg) during their first winter, two supplementary feeding experiments using whole-grain barley and lupins were conducted on a farm in southern New South Wales, in a region where weaner illthrift had been reported. Experiment 1 was a 2 × 2 + 1 factorial with 16 replicate goats; two feeding levels (115 or 230 g/day of whole-barley grain) × two periods of feeding (4 or 8 weeks) + Control (grazing only). Experiment 2 had five treatments × 13 replicate goats; three treatments fed 230 g/day of whole-barley grain for periods of 2 or 3 months and two treatments fed a 50 : 50 mixture of lupin and barley grain at 350 g/day for 2 or 4 months. Goats were individually fed and then all returned together for grazing. There were no effects of feeding in Experiment 1 and variations of feeding 230 g/day of barley in Experiment 2 provided no benefit. Feeding lupin/barley for 4 months increased liveweight (gain 59 g/day), mohair production, mohair fibre diameter and the incidence of medullated fibre. About 25% of this ration was not eaten by eight goats, reducing treatment average intake to 295 g/day. By the end of spring, there was no difference in treatment liveweights. Regression constants indicated that for each 1 μm increase in mean fibre diameter, greasy fleece weight increased 35 g and for each 1 kg increase in pre-shearing liveweight, greasy fleece weight increased 26 g. The results show that Angora weaner goats can grow during winter, provided their energy and protein needs for growth are met. Improved pasture management and higher levels of supplementary feeding to weaned Angoras are indicated compared with current practices on farms in Australia.

Supplementary feeding of young Merino sheep, grazing wheat stubble, with different amounts of lupin, oat or barley grain

1989 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 29 ◽  
Author(s):  
JB Rowe ◽  
G Brown ◽  
IG Ralph ◽  
J Ferguson ◽  
JF Wallace
Keyword(s):  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Barley Grain ◽  
Supplementary Feeding ◽  
Winter Period ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Wheat Stubble ◽  
Fleece Weight ◽  
Carry Over ◽  
Different Levels ◽  
Supplement Intake

We examined the effect on liveweight change and wool growth of 3 grain supplements: lupins, oats and barley, fed at different levels to grazing Merinos. The animals (approx. 9 months of age, mean weight 29.3 kg) grazed wheat stubble (10 sheep/ha) from January to May and each supplement was fed at 0, 150, 300,450, 600, and 750 g/sheep.day (given twice per week). The digestibility of the stubble was high (stem 45%, leaf 58%) in February and decreased by May (stem 42%, leaf 49%). The unsupplemented animals received no supplementation until 1 May, when they reached a weight of 26.5 kg. The liveweight of the supplemented animals increased in relation to the amount of each supplement given. The conversion (kg supplement fed per kg liveweight gain, was 3.64 for lupins compared with 4.93 and 5.21 for the oats and barley respectively. There was an increase in the clean fleece weight (Y, kg) (November shearing) with increasing levels of each supplement (X, kg grain/sheep.day) described by the following equation; Y= 2.65 + 2.26X- 1,343, but there were no differences associated with the type of grain. As the level of supplement intake increased from 0 to 750 g/day, fibre diameter increased (P< 0.001) from 18.6 to 2 1.1 km, staple length increased (P < 0.01) from 73.5 to 86.7 mm and staple breaking force increased (P<0.05) from 17.4 to 26.1 N/ktex. There was no effect of type of supplement on parameters of wool quality. With all supplements there was an apparent carry-over effect of the summer-autumn feeding on wool growth during the winter period. For each additional 1 g of wool grown during the supplementary feeding period, approximately 1.4 g were measured in the final fleece weight.

Production and quality of cashmere grown by adult wether goats fed low quality forage with supplements of either whole barley or lupin grain.

2000 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 795 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. A. McGregor ◽  
M. Z. Umar
Keyword(s):  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Fibre Length ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Barley Grain ◽  
Practical Application ◽  
Whole Grain ◽  
Summer Pasture ◽  
Cashmere Goats

The effects of the provision of cereal (barley) and legume (lupin) grain supplements when 50 adult wether cashmere goats were individually penned and fed on senescent temperate summer pasture (DDM 46.9%, N 0.67%, ME 6.2 MJ/kg DM) were investigated using a factorial experiment. The goats grazed senescent temperate pasture during summer before pen feeding for 9 weeks and were then grazed on germinating autumn pastures for 3 months until shorn in mid June. The production and quality of cashmere was affected by: (i) provision of whole grain supplements, (ii) type of supplementary grain fed, and (iii) level of feeding of supplementary grain. Unsupplemented goats grew 95 g cashmere with mean fibre diameter 17.01 m and mean cashmere fibre length 52 mm. During the period of pen feeding unsupplemented goats lost 95 g liveweight/day. Provision of whole grain supplements significantly increased total yearly cashmere growth to 179 g (+88%) which was 26 mm longer (50%) and 2.12 m coarser (26%) than cashmere grown by unsupplemented goats. Increasing the level of supplementary grain resulted in linear increases in feed intake, cashmere growth, fibre diameter and length. For each 100 g/day of lupin or barley grain fed during the pen-feeding period the regression coefficients indicated an extra 33 g of cashmere was grown, which was 0.6 m coarser and for barley 10 mm longer and for lupins 17 mm longer. Cashmere (fibre length/fibre diameter2) ratio was increased by supplementary feeding, increased feed level and liveweight gain during the experimental period. Relatively longer cashmere was produced as the level of nutrition increased. It is clear that a base diet of senescent temperate pasture that is low in digestible nutrients and low in nitrogen results in suppressed cashmere growth. Strategic grain supplementation for at least 9 weeks during late summer and autumn has the potential to significantly increase cashmere production and cashmere fibre length when adult cashmere goats are grazing pastures deficient in digestible energy and nitrogen. However feeding high levels of lupin and barley grain to adult goats is contra indicated as cashmere mean fibre diameter may exceed market limits. The practical application of the results is discussed in light of previous research.

Genetic parameters for body weight, fleece weight and fibre diameter in South African Angora goats

1996 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.A. Snyman ◽  
J.J. Olivier
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
South African ◽  
Genetic Parameters ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Angora Goats ◽  
Fleece Weight

Influence of liveweight, liveweight change, and diet on wool growth, staple strength, and fibre diameter in young sheep

1998 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 269 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. G. Masters ◽  
A. D. Peterson ◽  
G. Mata ◽  
S. M. Liu
Keyword(s):  
Management Strategy ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Canola Meal ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Lupin Seed ◽  
Staple Strength ◽  
Wool Yield ◽  
Fleece Weight

The effects of initial liveweight, liveweight change, and composition of the diet on wool growth and staple strength in weaner sheep were investigated. Weaner wethers (64) were allocated to treatments in a factorial design (23). The factors were initial liveweight (heavy, 33 kg; light, 25 kg), liveweight change (fed at maintenance for 56 days, or 28 days at 0 ·6×maintenance then 28 days at 1·6×maintenance), and diet (lupin seed based diet or canola meal based diet). The heavier weaners grew approximately 1·9 g/day more wool than the light sheep during the experimental period and this resulted in a higher clean fleece weight (1·8 v. 1·4 kg), staple strength (37 v. 27·4 N/ktex), and fibre diameter (18·0 v. 17·4 µm). Substituting canola meal for lupin seed increased wool growth during the experiment and clean wool yield, but did not affect clean fleece weight or staple strength. The weaners fed to lose and then gain weight grew wool with a lower staple strength than the weaners fed to maintain weight through the experiment (28·6 v. 35·8 N/ktex), but there were no differences in any of the other fleece characteristics. The ratio of wool growth to dry matter intake (DMI) was higher in the sheep fed canola meal than those fed lupins (by approximately 1·5 g/kg DMI) and higher in weaners losing weight than those fed to maintain weight (by approximately 4·5 g/kg DMI). From a practical perspective, these results indicate that initial liveweight and liveweight change both influence staple strength and wool growth and need to be included in any management strategy to improve wool quality of young sheep.

Supplementary feeding of grazing Merino ewe weaners

1972 ◽  
Vol 12 (59) ◽  
pp. 584 ◽  
Author(s):  
WR McManus ◽  
TG Kennedy
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Supplementary Feeding ◽  
Temporary Increase ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Early Autumn ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Subsequent Fertility ◽  
Fleece Weight

Merino ewe weaner lambs grazing at a high stocking rate for 32 weeks in the Wellington region of New South Wales were fed two levels (low, medium) of oat grain plus lucerne hay supplement. Insignificant fleece-adjusted liveweight gain and significant, but small, (2.8 per cent and 9.9 per cent) increases in clean fleece weight resulted for the low and medium groups. Feeding reduced fleece tenderness and altered wool handle and colour. Merino weaner ewes grazing improved pastures at Yass were supplemented with oat grain for 12 weeks in the late summer-early autumn. There was a temporary increase in woo1 production and liveweight but subsequent fertility was not improved. The responses obtained to treatment in both trials appear to be uneconomic

Supplementation of young sheep with lupins plus sulfur and a complete mineral mix

1992 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 267
Author(s):  
PT Doyle ◽  
RA Love ◽  
RH Dunlop ◽  
CL White
Keyword(s):  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Potassium Sulfate ◽  
Feeding Period ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Mineral Supplements ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Average Intake ◽  
Staple Strength ◽  
Fleece Weight ◽  
Mineral Lick

Young Merino sheep (7-8 months of age, weighing about 40.5 kg) were given weekly supplements of 1050 gfsheep of lupins, lupins coated with potassium sulfate (25 g/kg lupins), lupins and access to a mineral lick (offered at 175 g/sheep.week), or lupins coated with potassium sulfate and access to the lick. The sheep grazed an annual pasture at a stocking rate of 15 sheepha and were given the supplements between 14 December and 5 April. The amount of pasture on offer in mid December exceeded 3000 kg DMha but declined to 1500 kg DMha in late March.There were significant amounts of green feed present in December and March (>20% of pasture DM), a small amount in January, and no green feed in February. Despite this the percentage of sheep licking the minerals was over 70% in January , February; and March, with average intake being about 10 g/sheep.day. No significant differences occurred between treatments for liveweights of sheep during the feeding period or at shearing. Over the feeding period sheep lost weight at about 30 g/day. Neither the additional sulfur nor the mineral lick had any significant effects on fleece weight, mean fibre diameter of the fleece, staple length, or staple strength. Wool growth rates were not different between treatments during the feeding period. These results indicate that under good pasture conditions with some green feed available, and when lupins are supplied, responses to mineral supplements are unlikely.

Estimates of genetic and phenotypic parameters for production, haematological and gastrointestinal nematode-associated traits in Australian Angora goats

2010 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 25 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Bolormaa ◽  
M. Olayemi ◽  
J. H. J. van der Werf ◽  
N. Baillie ◽  
F. Le Jambre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural Infection ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Gastrointestinal Nematode ◽  
Production Traits ◽  
Phenotypic Correlations ◽  
Heritability Estimates ◽  
Angora Goats ◽  
Fleece Weight ◽  
Positive Correlations ◽  
Haemoglobin Content

Genetic parameters for liveweight (LWT), greasy fleece weight (GFW), mean fibre diameter (MFD), standard deviation of MFD (MFD-s.d.), mean fibre curvature (CURVE) percentage of medullated (%MED) and kemp (%KEMP) fibres, faecal worm egg count (WEC), packed cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular volume (MCV) mean corpuscular haemoglobin content (MCHC), circulating anti-nematode IgG (IgG) and counts of circulating eosinophils (EOS), lymphocytes (LYM), neutrophils (NEU), basophils (BASO) and monocytes (MONO) up to 18 months of age were estimated in Australian Angora goats (608 animals, 14 sires 3 years of birth). Measurements were made during a period of natural parasite challenge up to 5 months of age, or following artificial challenge with 10 000 infective larvae of Trichostrongylus colubriformis at 5.25 months of age. Year of birth had a significant impact on production and parasite-associated traits at all ages studied. Sex had a marked effect on production and erythrocyte traits. Birth type had no effect on any traits in animals older than 6 months. Maternal effects were not significant except for LWT at 3, 5 and 6 months and for IgG at 3 months. Most production traits were highly (LWT, GFW, MFD, %MED) or moderately (CURVE, MFD-s.d.) heritable (range 0.17–0.59) with only %KEMP having a low heritability (0.02–0.14). The heritability estimates (±s.e.) for CURVE are novel for goats and ranged from 0.18 ± 0.09 at first shearing to 0.44 ± 0.14 at third shearing. Heritability estimates were low for WEC (0.02–0.16) and for specific IgG during natural infection (0.14–0.15) but higher for IgG following artificial challenge with T. colubriformis (0.42 ± 0.13). Of the haematological variables NEU and all red cell traits were highly heritable (0.45–0.71), LYM and MONO were moderately to highly heritable (0.31–0.55), and EOS was weakly to moderately heritable (0.06–0.28). Strong phenotypic correlations existed between production traits. MFD was positively correlated with GFW and negatively correlated with CURVE, indicating that finer fibres have a higher crimp or wave count. WEC had consistent negative phenotypic correlations with PCV, LYM and EOS, and positive correlations with NEU. Correlations with IgG were positive up to 5 months and negative thereafter. Phenotypic correlations between WEC and LWT as well as with GFW and MFD were negative. Heritability estimates for production traits were generally consistent with other studies. Haematological and fibre curvature findings are completely novel for Angora goats. Estimates of heritability for WEC fell in mid range of published findings for other goat breeds, and these results suggest that there is some scope for breeding for worm resistance in Angoras but the response is likely to be slow.

Hybrid vigour and lamb production. 2. Effects on survival and growth of first-cross lambs, and on wool and body measurements of hogget ewes

1978 ◽  
Vol 18 (95) ◽  
pp. 753 ◽  
Author(s):  
BJ McGuirk ◽  
ME Bourke ◽  
JM Manwaring
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Fibre Length ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Hybrid Vigour ◽  
Body Measurements ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Survival And Growth ◽  
Lamb Survival ◽  
Fleece Weight

In an experiment at Cowra Agricultural Research Station, New South Wales, five drops of Border Leicester (BB), Merino (MM), Border Leicester x Merino (BM) and Merino x Border Leicester (MB) lambs have been compared to estimate hybrid vigour effects on lamb survival and growth, and on the wool and body measurements of ewe hoggets. Hybrid vigour has been estimated as the percentage superiority of the crossbreds 1/2(MB + BM) over the average of the purebred 1/2(BB + MM) flocks. Hybrid vigour was observed for lamb survival, with the crossbreds superior by 10 per cent in lambs weaned per lamb born (P < 0.05). The crossbred lambs were also heavier at birth (4 per cent) and weaning (6 per cent) and crossbred wether lambs were 11 per cent heavier at slaughter (all P < 0.05). The crossbred ewes were significantly superior to the average of the purebred flocks in both greasy (8 per cent) and clean fleece weight (12 per cent), liveweight (12 per cent) and chest depth (5 per cent) (all P < 0.05). There was no evidence that the crossbreds were superior in any component of wool production per unit area of the skin ; fibre length, fibre diameter or follicle density. Other evidence from this experiment indicates that the breeds and crosses differ in their susceptibility to pneumonia and that there may be heterosis for resistance. This situation could give rise to heterosis for production characters and the heterosis estimates obtained may only be applicable to first-cross flocks derived from Border Leicester studs which are susceptible to pneumonia. Lamb survival to weaning was higher for purebred Merinos (88 per cent) than for purebred Border Leicesters (73 per cent, P < 0.05). The Border Leicester lambs were heavier at all ages and in all years, although the magnitude of their superiority varied significantly between years (P < 0.05). This breed x year interaction was also significant for clean fleeca weight, but the average production of the two groups was similar over the five years. Variation, measured as the coefficient of variation, was generally lower within the crossbred flocks for those characters for which hybrid vigour effects were observed, but these differences were not statistically significant.

Variation in mohair staple length over the lifetime of Angora goats

2013 ◽  
Vol 53 (6) ◽  
pp. 479 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. A. McGregor ◽  
K. L. Butler ◽  
M. B. Ferguson
Keyword(s):  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Fibre Length ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Genetic Origins ◽  
Age Cohort ◽  
Likelihood Model ◽  
Biological Determinants ◽  
Angora Goats ◽  
Fleece Weight ◽  
Staple Length

Previous work has shown that, within an Angora goat flock, clean fleece weight is proportional to fleece-free liveweight (FFLwt)2/3 and for goats of the same age and cohort, the mean mohair fibre diameter is proportional to FFLwt1/3. This indicates that fibre length might not be related to the size of animals. This study examines how mohair staple length (SL) is related to FFLwt of Angora goats of different genetic origins over their lifetime and how the relationship varies with other lifetime factors. Measurements were made over 11 shearing periods on a population of Angora goats representing the current range and diversity of genetic origins in Australia, including South African, Texan and interbred admixtures of these and Australian sources. Records of breed, sire, dam, date of birth, dam age, birthweight, birth parity, weaning weight, liveweight, fleece growth and fleece quality were taken for castrated males (wethers) (n = 94 animals). FFLwt were determined for each goat at shearing time by subtracting the greasy fleece weight from the liveweight recorded immediately before shearing. The average of the FFLwt at the start of the period and the FFLWt at the end of the period was calculated. Liveweight change (LwtCh) was the change in FFLwt over the period between shearings. A restricted maximum likelihood model was developed for SL, which allowed the observations of the same animal at different ages to be correlated in an unstructured manner. Average SL differed from ~12.0 to ~14.5 cm, depending on age. There were no consistent effects of season. At any age, an increase of 10 kg LwtCh between animals results in about a 0.34 (s.e. = 0.087) cm increase in SL. There was no evidence of an effect of FFLwt on SL. The results confirm our hypothesis that within a single age cohort of Angora goats, there is very little, if any, relationship between the liveweight and SL of individual animals. This implies that the biological determinants of size of fibres related to cross-sectional area are substantially different to the size determinants of fibre length.

Supplementation of young Merino sheep grazing annual pastures with lupin, barley grain, or silage

1993 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 403 ◽  
Author(s):  
JJ Gardner ◽  
PT Doyle ◽  
JB Rowe ◽  
R Hetherington ◽  
P Spicer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Energy Levels ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Barley Grain ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Metabolisable Energy ◽  
Staple Strength ◽  
Fleece Weight

We examined the effects on liveweight change and wool production of supplements of lupin, barley grain, or silage given to Merino weaners (age 5-7 months; starting weight about 30 kg) grazing dry annual pastures. In experiment 1, each supplement was offered at 5 rates (g/sheep.day): lupin, air-dry, 75-450; barley, air-dry, 80-480; silage, fresh, 430-2580. Sheep on all treatments gained weight in the first 29 days of supplementary feeding, with no effect of rate of supplementation (lupin 97 g/day; barley 57 g/day; silage 74 g/day). Those receiving no supplement also gained weight (40 g/day). Different supplements were not compared because the energy levels of lupin and barley were not measured. Over the next 48 days, liveweight changes increased (P<0.001) linearly with rate of feeding of lupin (25 � 2.1 g/100 g) and barley (12 � 0.8 g/100 g). The trend with silage (11 � 5.0 g/kg) was not significant. Taken over the 77 days, liveweight changes increased (P<0.01) linearly with rate of feeding for lupin (20 �. 1.8 g/100 g), barley (8 �. 1.7 g/100 g), and silage (10 �. 2 g/kg). There were no significant (P>0.05) differences associated with the rate of supplementation for annual clean fleece weight (lupin 3.43 kg, barley 3.37 kg, silage 3.30 kg) or mean fibre diameter of the 12-month fleece (lupin 22.2 �m, barley 22.6 �m, silage 22.1 �m). In experiment 2, sheep were given no supplement, lupin, barley, or lupin and barley mixtures (metabolisable energy ratio, 1:3,1:1,3:1). All supplements increased liveweight change (P<0.01) and clean wool growth rates (P<0.05) compared with no supplement. There was also a trend towards an increase in total wool grown by supplemented sheep (3.8 - 4.00 v. 3.73 kg). Liveweight change during the first 71 days of feeding increased (P<0.01) as the proportion of lupin in the supplement increased, with no effects in the final 70 days of supplementation. During supplementation, clean wool growth rate increased (P<0.05) as the proportion of lupin in the mixture increased, but there was no significant effect on the total amount of wool grown over 12 months or on mean fibre diameter. Supplements resulted in increased (P<0.001) staple strength when compared with controls (21-25 v. 14 N/ktex).

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document