The supplementary feeding of sheep consuming Mulga (Acacia aneura) with low levels of molasses and urea under field conditions.

Abstract

Mature Merino wethers grazing mulga (Acacia aneura) in south-west Queensland were supplemented for 21 weeks with 50 or 100 g DM molasses day with or without 6 g urea day -' .Growth rates and clean fleece yields in the supplemented groups were higher (P < 0.05) than in unsupplemented controls. The control group lost liveweight during the experiment. Growth rates and clean fleece yields were higher (P < 0.05) in groups receiving 100 g DM molasses day -' than in the groups receiving 50 g DM molasses day-'. Provision of urea depressed (P <0.05) growth rates and clean fleece yields. Differences were not as evident when comparing clean wool production per unit area and fibre diameter: significant (P <0.05) differences only occurred between the two levels of molasses supplernentation. Fibre diameter was larger in each of three measure- ment periods and clean wool production per unit area was higher in the middle measurement period for groups receiving 100 g DM molasses day -' .