The voluntary feed intake of sheep genetically different in wool production

1965 ◽  
Vol 5 (19) ◽  
pp. 385 ◽  
Author(s):  
AJ Williams ◽  
HP Miller

The voluntary feed intakes of penned rams were measured on three roughage diets containing 15, 9, and 6.5 per cent crude protein. The rams were chosen from three flocks which varied genetically in wool production at pasture. A latin square design was used to examine differences in voluntary feed intake between the diets and the flocks. Feed intake and rate of consumption increased with increasing crude protein percentage of the diet. Daily time spent eating increased from the high to the low quality diet. Within diets, time spent eating was positively associated with intake differences between rams. Feed intake and water consumption were positively associated between and within diets. There were no differences between the diets in water intake per unit feed eaten. Flocks did not differ in voluntary feed intake or in any character associated with intake.


Author(s):  
W. Polviset ◽  
N. Danopas

Background: Agricultural productivity in Southeast Asian countries are important to produce food for human, thus the first priority to improve agricultural productivity is feed and feeding in livestock, especially in ruminants when rice straw and Napier grass are used as the roughage sources; in addition, cassava leaves and Leucaena leaves can be used as the protein sources. Interestingly, the strategy to improve feed in ruminant is through the use of total mixed rations (TMR) which are produced by combination of roughages, concentrates, minerals, vitamins and additives. Methods: During the period 2020-2021 a study with 2 × 2 factorial, in 4 × 4 Latin square design with 21 days per period tested the following TMR’s T1- 5% urea treated rice straw with dried Leucaena leaves, T2- 5% urea treated rice with dried cassava leaves, T3- fermented napier grass with dried Leucaena leaves and the T4- fermented napier grass with dried cassava leaves on voluntary feed intake, nutrient intake and blood metabolites in Black Bengal goats. Result: All treatments did not affect voluntary feed intake (kgDM/head/day and % BW) (P greater than 0.05), but feeding with 5% urea treated rice with dried cassava leaves, it was non significantly higher (0.71 kgDM/day). Furthermore, nutrient intake of organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and rumination were not affected among all the four treatments (P greater than 0.05). Additionally, blood glucose, blood urea nitrogen and triglyceride concentrations in plasma were not influenced due to treatments (P greater than 0.05). Nevertheless, Feed cost (USD/kg) was reduced T3 and T4. In conclusion, feeding Black Bengal goat with fermented napier grass with dried Leucaena leaves and fermented napier grass with dried cassava leaves in the TMR were suitable because of the lowest price (0.13 USD/kg) when compared to the other treatments.



1990 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 915-918 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Zinn

Abstract Three trials were conducted to evaluate the influence of time of day on live weight (LW) measurements of feedlot steers. Trial 1 was initiated November 30, 1988 and involved 15 crossbred steers that were housed and fed individually. Trial 2 was initiated February 28, 1989 and involved 75 crossbred steers that were housed and fed in groups of 5. Trial 3 was initiated June 13, 1989 and was otherwise similar to Trial 2. Weighing times were 0400, 0800 and 1200 with periods between weighing of 7 d. Treatments were assigned to individual steers or pen groups in a replicated 3 × 3 latin square arrangement. In Trial 1, there was a linear decrease (P < .01) in LW averaging 1 kg/h for measurements taken between 0400 and 1200. In Trial 2, both linear (P < .01) and quadratic (P < .05) responses in LW to weighing time were detected. Live weight decreased .75 kg/h between 0400 and 0800, similar to what was observed in Trial 1, but between 0800 and 1200 LW remained unchanged. In Trial 3, only a linear (P < .01) response of LW to time was detected. However, as with Trial 2, the greater rate of decrease in LW appeared to occur between 0400 and 0800 (averaging 1 kg/h). Differences between trials in pattern of water consumption were related to differences in ambient temperature. Time of day had a dramatic effect on LW of feedlot steers. Measurements of LW taken within the later morning hours are more likely to be affected by water intake than measurements taken during the earlier morning time period (0400 to 0800).



1970 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 369-373 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. Haggar ◽  
M. B. Ahmed

SUMMARYTwenty-seven sheep feeding trials were carried out on freshly cut Andropogon gayanus, fed daily during three wet seasons, 1966–8.In each year, dry-matter voluntary intake and digestibility were highest during the first part of the growing season and declined with advancing maturity of the herbage. However, at the time of ear emergence in early October, there were small increases in voluntary intake of dry-matter and crude protein digestibility, although further decreases followed after mid-October.Determinations of in vitro digestibility indicated that elongating stems during early October were at least as digestible as leaves.Seasonal changes in crude protein digestibility were much greater than changes in dry-matter digestibility; seasonal changes in feed intake were intermediate. Voluntary feed intake was related to dry-matter digestibility.Voluntary feed intake and digestible crude protein were both closely related to the crude protein content of the forage. It was concluded that crude protein is a useful criterion for predicting nutritive value.



2010 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 405 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Panjaitan ◽  
S. P. Quigley ◽  
S. R. McLennan ◽  
D. P. Poppi

Spirulina, a freshwater microalgae, has previously been shown to increase the efficiency of microbial protein production in cattle fed hay with a low crude protein content. The present study was carried out to determine the effect of increasing the concentration of Spirulina in the drinking water on the intake of water and the amount of water containing Spirulina bypassing the rumen of cattle. Five rumen-cannulated steers were given a fixed amount of pangola grass hay (14 g DM/kg W.day–1) and water containing 0, 1, 2, 2.7 and 3.5% (w/w) Spirulina in an incomplete Latin square design. Water intake by the control steers (0% Spirulina) was 29.7 and 49.3 g/kg W for the first drinking event after it was made available and over 24 h, respectively. For steers receiving the algae, intake of water plus Spirulina increased linearly (P < 0.01) from 42.7 to 60.2 g/kg W during the first drinking event, as the concentration of Spirulina in the drinking water increased, but over 24 h was not affected by Spirulina concentration and averaged 74.4 g/kg W. The bypass of water through the rumen, as determined using chromium-EDTA as a marker, averaged 20.5 ± 1.2% and was not affected by the concentration of Spirulina in the drinking water. Increasing inclusion of Spirulina was associated with a decrease in rumen pH, an increase in urea concentration in blood serum, and an increase in ammonia-N concentration, propionate and branched-chain fatty acids, and a decrease in butyrate proportions in rumen fluid. Spirulina inclusion in the drinking water increased water intake and may provide a potential safe and inexpensive alternative to urea for extensively grazed ruminants.



2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 206-213
Author(s):  
I. Amartsana ◽  
N. Prakobsaeng ◽  
W. Polviset

This study was aimed to analysis the effects of roughage sources and oil sources in a total mixed ration (TMR) on voluntary feed intake, digestibility and blood chemistry. The study was conducted using four crossbred Thai Native X American Brahman cattle, aged 1.5 years old and with a live weight of 177±34 kg, which were trialled by using a 2x2 factorial in 4×4 Latin square design. All cattle received TMR diets supplemented with bagasse and palm oil, bagasse and sunflower oil, rice straw and palm oil, rice straw and sunflower oil. Each period of feeding lasted for 21 days. During the experimental periods, all cattle were fed ad libitum and with a water supply. The results revealed that roughage sources and oil sources did not affect voluntary feed intake, digestibility and blood chemistry. It was concluded from this experiment that using bagasse or rice straw as the roughage sources with palm oil and sunflower oil mixed in the TMR were suitable for use in beef cattle diets, especially using bagasse with palm oil because of the lowest price (0.28 USD/kg) when compared to the other treatments.



1968 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 451-463 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. Winfield ◽  
W. Brown ◽  
I. A. M. Lucas

1. Experiments were carried out during two winters on the effects of exposure, partial outdoor shelter and complete indoor shelter on individually penned pregnant Welsh Mountain ewes at an altitude of approximately 275 m. A single pelleted diet was given at several levels of intake.2. In Experiment 1 ewes fed at an approximately maintenance level indoors had post partum live weights 0·9 and 1·4 kg greater than those fed at the same level in the partially sheltered and exposed pens.3. The daily voluntary feed intake of ewes fed to appetite was 20% greater in the exposed and partially sheltered pens than in the indoor pens. But there were no consequent differences between post partum live weights, which were all higher than for ewes kept at maintenance intake.4. In Experiment 2, when the weather was milder, the effects of exposure and shelter on ewes fed at the maintenance level were smaller and not statistically significant. Raising intake by 5 or 10% caused only small and not statistically significant increases in post partum weight.5. Neither changes in food intake nor in environment affected lamb birth weights.6. Ewes fed to appetite had a significantly greater wool production than those at the maintenance level. Environment had no effect on the weight of clean wool produced but penning indoors increased the weight of suint.



1961 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 696 ◽  
Author(s):  
KJ Hutchinson

Data for wool production, feed intake, and body weight were recorded for a group of 31 rams selected from the South Australian strong-woolled Merino flock at Roseworthy. Measurements were made during (a) grazing, and (b) ad libitum pen feeding. A locally developed faecal nitrogen method was used to estimate intakes at pasture. For the pen diet, which contained 15% crude protein, two measurements of apparent dry matter and nitrogen digestibility were made for each sheep. The repeatability of gross conversion efficiency of feed into wool under grazing versus pen feeding was highly significant, viz. r = +0.79. While the repeatability of wool production was also highly significant, viz. r = +0 77, the repeatability of feed intake was not significant in these data, viz. r = +0 12 In pens, voluntary feed intake was found to vary with body weight to the power of + 1 09, the 99% fiducial limits extending from +0.81 to + 1 37 and thus excluding fractional powers conventionally assigned to basal metabolic nee&, e.g. +0.7. The physiological components of wool production were studied with the use of' the pen data. An identity was used which involved three terms, viz. gross conversion efficiency of feed into wool, gross feed intake per unit body weight, and body weight. Of these, gross conversion efficiency was the prime determinant of wool production. Gross feed intake per unit body weight was significantly associated with wool production (P<0.05), while the relationship between wool production and body weight was not significant in these data. In the pen experiment 'the regression relationship between voluntary feed intake and body weight accounted for approximately one-half of the variation in voluntary feed intake. A negative association between body weight and efficiency was also revealed. However, the general significance of this latter finding is doubtful, particularly in view of the variable relationships recorded between body weight and clean fleece weight for rams in 5 years' data from the general Roseworthy flock. For the experimental group of 31 rams, substantial differences were recorded in individual apparent digestive efficiencies for both dry matter and nitrogen. The ranges of individual values, expressed as four standard deviations, were 9.2 and 12.2% respectively. However, these differences did not contribute to differences in gross conversion efficiency of feed into wool, which suggests that the latter resides in either general or special aspects of metabolism.



2004 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
pp. 227-231
Author(s):  
J J Hyslop

As a result of the need to excrete the waste products of protein catabolism in urine, increases in protein intake have been associated with increases in water intake in poultry (Bailey, 1990), in pigs (Brooks and Carpenter, 1990) and in ruminants (Agricultural Research Council, 1980). Whilst there is only very limited data available to support a similar relationship in horses (Meyer, 1987) it is believed that increases in protein intake in equines also result in greater water consumption when high protein diets are fed (Lawrence, 1998). The objective of the current study was to examine the relationship between crude protein intake and water consumption when forage based diets were offered ad libitum to individually fed ponies. Six mature Welsh–cross pony geldings with a mean liveweight (LW) of 281 kg (s.e.d. 0.89) were individually housed in pens bedded with wood shavings and used in a changeover design experiment consisting of two 21-day periods.Six mature Welsh-cross pony geldings with a mean liveweight (LW) of 281 kg (s.e.d. 0.89) were individually housed in pens bedded with wood shavings and used in a changeover design experiment consisting of two 21-day periods.



1976 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 739-744 ◽  
Author(s):  
WILLIAM HOHENBOKEN ◽  
THEODORE P. KISTNER

The effects of time on feed and of ambient temperature on water intake, and the effects of preconditioning and shearing treatments and of ambient temperature on body temperature and respiration rate of feedlot lambs were examined. Daily ambient temperature maximum, minimum and range averaged 27.5, 10.8 and 16.7 C, respectively, for 56 days between July and September. For the first 24 days that the lambs were on feed, water intake was not affected by ambient temperature. Intake did increase linearly with day (b = 160 ml), concurrently with increasing feed intake. During the remaining 32 days, water intake per lamb increased 139 ml per 1 C rise in average daily ambient temperature. Afternoon body temperature, morning to afternoon body temperature change, and respiration rate all increased with increasing ambient temperature. Preconditioning 1 wk before weaning (pneumonia, ovine ecthyma and enterotoxemia vaccinations and drenching for tapeworms, intestinal roundworms and coccidia) vs. conditioning the lambs with the same treatments at the time of weaning and shipment did not affect body temperature or respiration rate. Lambs sheared with a clipper attachment which left a 1-cm fleece stubble averaged 0.3 C lower in afternoon body temperature than either close-shorn or unshorn lambs.



2012 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 30 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Wilkes ◽  
P. I. Hynd ◽  
W. S. Pitchford

The use of animals that are resilient to challenging environments is becoming of increasing importance in animal production systems. Interest in breeds of sheep such as the Damara for sheep meat production is increasing in Australia. Anecdotally this breed outperforms the traditionally grazed Merino in the harsh rangeland environments encountered in the Pastoral Zone of Australia, but little evidence is available to support this claim. A trial was conducted to quantify differences in the efficiency of feed utilisation and growth performance of Damara and Merino sheep under two contrasting dietary regimes. Eighteen castrate males of each breed were offered a ‘low-quality’ diet (L) (7 MJ/kg ME; 8% crude protein, as per manufacturer’s analysis) followed by a ‘high-quality’ diet (H) (11 MJ/kg dry matter and 16% crude protein, as per manufacturer’s analysis). On the L diet, Damaras had similar ad libitum feed intake as Merinos, but the digestibility of feed dry matter and energy was ~10% higher in Damaras than Merinos. Damaras also gained weight (38 g/day) on the L diet, while Merinos lost weight (28 g/day) (P < 0.002). On the H diet the Damaras consumed 14% more feed (P < 0.053) and grew 30% faster than Merinos (P < 0.002), but there was no difference in the apparent dry matter or energy digestibility of the feed. At the conclusion of the trial the Damara carcasses were 22% heavier (28.1 versus 23.1 kg), and had higher dressing percentages (53.2 versus 41.5%) than Merinos, but the proportions of carcass components did not differ. The Damaras achieved higher total digestible energy intakes than the Merinos on both diets. On the low-quality feed this was achieved through higher feed digestibility and on the high-quality feed through greater voluntary feed intake. We speculate that this arises from variation between the breeds in rumen volume, particle flow and the site of digestion, but further studies are required to confirm this contention. The ability of Damara sheep to obtain more nutrients from widely differing feed bases makes them an attractive alternative sheep breed for sheep meat production. Furthermore, the presence of such variation between genotypes offers potential for selective breeding and development of commercial lines of sheep.



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