The performance of pregnant and lactating Merino ewes and their lambs fed survival rations of wheat grain and sawdust

Abstract

Merino ewes were mated at pasture and then fed in pens either a maintenance or an 80 per cent maintenance ration of wheat grain three times a week. Half the animals at each feeding level were offered Spotted Gum (Eucalyptus maculata) sawdust. Addition of sawdust to the ration did not affect liveweight change and the wool growth rate of ewes or the birth weight and growth rate of lambs. It did, however, affect the long-term survival rate of ewes. Of the ewes that died after three months of survival feeding, four were in groups fed wheat alone and one in a group fed sawdust with the wheat. The survival rate and growth rate of lambs in all treatments were poor.