Wool production of grazing sheep supplemented with casein and formaldehyde-treated casein

Abstract

For 59 days grazing Merino wethers were given 0, 40, or 80 g of sodium caseinate each day directly into the abomasum. Clean wool production was increased by 35 and 38 per cent after giving 40 and 80 g per day respectively. In a second experiment grazing Merino wethers were given 0 or 80 g casein, or 40 or 80 g casein treated with formaldehyde (HCHO-casein) each day through cannulae inserted into the rumen. Wool production was increased by 22, 38, and 51 per cent by the 80 g casein, 40 g HCHO-casein and 80 g HCHO-casein treatments respectively. In a third experiment Merino wethers, in which rumen cannulae had been prepared, were grazed at a high and low stocking rate, and were given daily 0, 20, 40, or 60 g HCHO-casein through the rumen cannulae. Wool production and efficiency of wool production increased, and herbage intake declined as the level of supplementary feeding increased.