scholarly journals APPLICATION OF TARGETED GOAT GRAZING IN OIL PALM PLANTATIONS: ASSESSMENT OF WEED PREFERENCE, SPATIAL USE OF GRAZING AREA AND LIVE WEIGHT CHANGE

Author(s):  
FRISCO NOBILLY
1991 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. A. Jackson ◽  
C. L. Johnson ◽  
J. M. Forbes

ABSTRACTAn experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of compound composition and silage characteristics on silage intake, feeding behaviour and productive performance of dairy cows during the first 25 weeks of lactation. Over a period of 3 years, 36 lactating British Friesian cows (12 per year), in their third or later lactations, were divided into two groups. The cows in each group received either compound S, in which the principal energy source was cereal starch, or compound F containing a mixture of high quality digestible fibre. Cows given compound F ate 2·2 kg more silage dry matter per day (P < 0·05). The type of compound had no effect on the frequency of silage feeding and the time spent eating was significantly different only over weeks 10 to 25 of lactation (P < 0·05), with cows on compound F spending on average 20 min longer feeding per day. Cows on compound F produced 1·7 kg more milk per day than cows on compound S. Although there were no significant differences in the concentration of milk constituents, compound F was associated with higher yields of milk constituents. Significant differences were found between the years of experiment in the frequency of feeding (P < 0·05) and also in the concentration of milk protein and milk fat. There were no significant differences in the magnitude of live-weight change between treatments or year of experiment.


1985 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Ducker ◽  
Rosemary A. Haggett ◽  
W. J. Fisher ◽  
S. V. Morant

ABSTRACTData from a large controlled experiment to investigate the effect of level of nutrition on reproductive performance were used to assess the value of production and blood measures as indicators of energy status in lactating dairy heifers. Live-weight change showed the strongest and most consistent relationship to mean energy balance (the difference between metabolizable energy intake and that used for milk production and maintenance) (P < 0·01 to P < 0·001). Body-condition score at a particular time was more closely related to mean energy balance in the preceding 4-week period (P < 0·05) than current energy balance. There was also a lag in the relationship between energy balance and live-weight change and mean body-condition score. Ultrasonic back fat measurements were significantly correlated with both loin and tailhead body-condition score (P < 0·001) but were more strongly related to mean energy balance in the preceding period (P < 0·05 to P < 0·001) than the body-condition scores.Blood samples were taken from all heifers 2 weeks before calving and 1, 5, 9, 13 and 18 weeks after calving and were analysed for 13 constituents. Concentrations of blood metabolites did not show consistently strong correlations with mean energy balance. The only blood metabolite to be measurably affected by the nutritional treatments applied in lactation was β-hydroxybutyrate.At best, combinations of production measures and blood metabolites were only able to predict the mean daily energy balance with a 95% confidence interval of ±20 MJ for an individual animal although this confidence interval was reduced to ±3 MJ for 100 animals.


1999 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
pp. 63-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. F. Veerkamp ◽  
E. P. C. Koenen

AbstractThe objectives of this study were to investigate genetic variation for traits that are part of the food utilization complex and to investigate the scope for future genetic improvement of traits possibly linked to metabolic stress: live weight (change), condition score (change) and energy balance. Many aspects of the food utilization complex appear to be heritable and are affected by genetic selection for yield. In general, genetic selection for yield increases intake and body tissue mobilization and energy balance is expected to decrease. However, unfavourable effects of genetic selection can be compensated for by measuring additional traits to be included in breeding programmes. Food intake, live weight (change) and condition score (change) are all potential options. Which traits should be measured, at what lactation stages and in which (nutritional) environment will merely depend on the coheritability with health and fertility, the genetic correlation with milk yield and the cost of measuring the trait effectively in a breeding programme.


1990 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 573-582 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather J. Black ◽  
D. M. B. Chestnut

ABSTRACTThe performance of housed ewes, shorn at various stages during pregnancy and offered silages ad libitum made from grass harvested at two contrasting stages of growth, was studied. The mean increase in silage dry matter (DM) intake due to shearing (0·11 kg/day; P > 0·05) was small in comparison with that resulting from offered earlier-cut silage (0·27 kg/day; P < 0·001). The mean increase in twin lamb birth weight from ewes shorn at least 6 weeks before lambing was almost 1 kg per lamb (P < 0·01) with no significant effect on ewe live-weight change. Greatest increase in lamb birth weight (1·11 kg; P < 0·01) was produced by shearing several times during pregnancy, with least response (0·23 kg; P < 0·05) from shearing once only, 4 weeks before lambing. The effect of silage quality on lamb birth weight was not significant, despite the large difference in DM intake of the two silages. This difference in intake was reflected by ewe live-weight change over pregnancy with those ewes offered early-cut silage gaining 5·57 kg while those offered late-cut silage lost 4·53 kg (P < 0·001). There was a marked fall in respiration rate and rectal temperature after each shearing and, compared with shorn ewes, unshorn ewes had a mean gestation length which was 2·04 days shorter (P < 0·01). In terms of lamb growth rates, ewe milk yields and milk composition, the performance on all treatments after turn-out to pasture was satisfactory and no significant carry-over effect of treatments applied during pregnancy were observed during the first 5 weeks of lactation.


1969 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
pp. 251-259 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. B. Coombe ◽  
G. K. Preston

SUMMARYIndividually-penned adult Merino wethers were fed for 16 weeks on a basal diet of ground, pelleted oat straw or Phalaris straw. Urea was supplied either in a salt-urea block containing 30% urea, or as crystalline urea incorporated into the pellets. A commercial mineral supplement was given during the first 8 weeks, but this was replaced with a laboratory-prepared mineral mix during the second 8 weeks.Urea supplementation significantly reduced live-weight loss. Over the 16 weeks control sheep lost a mean of 14·5 kg, and supplemented sheep 8·7 kg body weight. Most of this response to urea occurred during the second half of the experimental period.Food intakes of all sheep increased over the first 2 weeks and then fell. In the unsupplemented groups, levels of intake then remained fairly low, whereas in the sheep fed urea food intakes rose over the final 6 weeks of the experiment. There was a significant linear regression of live-weight change on food intake only with the urea-fed sheep. Intakes of urea-N from the blocks were extremely variable between individual sheep and between periods within sheep; in most cases, however, they appeared to be adequate, as this type of supplementation gave results similar to those obtained by mixing urea throughout the roughage.There was no significant effect of urea on total wool growth during the experimental period, although wool growth in the supplemented shepp showed a rise towards the end of the experiment. Wool growth in any 4-weekly period was closely related to food intake and live-weight change during that period.


1979 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 363-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. A. MacKay ◽  
R. G. H. Downer

Changes in weight, water content, and activity of alate and apterous virginoparous Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) were observed during development from third instar larvae to mature adults. Apterous aphids gained weight steadily until the 4th day of adulthood, and showed no dramatic changes in activity during this period. The live weights of alate aphids decreased during the 24 h immediately following the final moult, but increased gradually after this lime. The onset of weight loss occurred before the active nonfeeding period during which dispersal would normally lake place. Recommencement of weight gain followed the resumption of feeding. After the adult moult, the water content of alatae expressed as a percentage of live weight decreased for 24 h. whereas that of apterae remained constant. During the next 24 h, the water content of alatae increased to a level slightly below that of apterae. Thereafter, both morphs maintained a constant water content until about the 5th day, when a slight increase was evident. Eighty-five percent of the weight loss of adult alatae is attributable to water loss. It is suggested that dehydration of newly moulted adult alatae is an adaptation to facilitate dispersive flight.


Author(s):  
Belete Kuraz ◽  
Adugna Tolera ◽  
Aster Abebe

Background: Mineral deficiencies are considered to be one of the nutritional constraints to sheep performance. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the role of bole soil on feed intake, live weight change and carcass characteristics of Arsi-Bale sheep fed natural grass hay and concentrate supplement and its cost-benefit analysis of bole soil supplementation. Result: Total DM, OM, CP, NDF, ADF intake and ADL were higher (p less than 0.0001) for T3 than for T1, T2 and T4. Final weight, body weight change, average daily gain and feed conversion efficiency were greater (p less than 0.0001) for T3 and T2 than for T1 and T4. There were no differences (p greater than 0.05) between T3 and T2 whereas T4 was greater than T1 in these variables. Slaughter weight (SW) was heavier (p less than 0.0001) for treatment two and treatment three than for treatment four and treatment one, hot carcass weight, foreleg weight and dressing percentage on empty body weight basis were greater (p less than 0.0001) for T3 and T2 than for T1and T4. Conclusion: Bole soil supplementation had potentially highest effect on feed intake, live weight change and carcass characteristics of Arsi-Bale sheep than non-supplemented groups. The present study also revealed that supplementation of minerals improved the total weight gain of sheep over the control treatment.


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