Effect of concentrate supplement and sward height on twin-bearing ewe body condition and the performance of their offspring
J. I. Kerslake A C , P. R. Kenyon A , S. T. Morris A , K. J. Stafford A and P. C. H. Morel BA Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
B Institute of Food, Nutrition and Human Health, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
C Corresponding author. Email: J.I.Kerslake@massey.ac.nz
Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48(7) 988-994 https://doi.org/10.1071/EA08041
Submitted: 15 January 2008 Accepted: 21 April 2008 Published: 20 June 2008
Abstract
These studies investigated the effects of offering concentrate supplement, from day 102 of pregnancy, to twin-bearing ewes grazing a 2- or 6-cm sward, on the condition of the ewe and the performance of their offspring in 2005 and 2006. In both years, 80 twin-bearing ewes were randomly assigned to either the 2- or 6-cm sward height pasture treatment from day 70 of pregnancy until parturition. From pregnancy day 102, half of the ewes within each sward height were offered 400 g/ewe.day of concentrate supplement. From day 102 until day 140 of pregnancy, ewes offered the concentrate supplement gained more liveweight then ewes offered pasture only. While supplementation affected ewe liveweight, its effects on lamb birthweight and growth were variable. In 2006, concentrate supplementation within the 6-cm sward height treatment increased (P < 0.05) lamb birthweight from an average of 4.8 to 5.3 kg. In 2005, concentrate supplementation increased (P < 0.05) lamb growth by 20 g/day. These inconsistent and minor production gains are unlikely to be cost effective because of the satisfactory performance of lambs from all other nutritional treatments and the extensive feeding of concentrate supplement. Therefore, feeding 400 g/ewe.day of concentrate supplement from day 102 of pregnancy to twin-bearing ewes on a 2- or 6-cm sward height pasture appears not to be a viable management strategy for commercial sheep farmers.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank Meat and Wool New Zealand for providing financial support for this research program and the National Research Centre for Growth and Development for the personal financial assistance of the first author.
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