Influence of method of conservation of lucerne on factors associated with voluntary intake in sheep

Abstract

This experiment measured the voluntary intake and rate of eating of sheep fed lucerne (Medicago sativa) that had been conserved as sun-dried material or as silage at 3 different DM contents (29.2, 33.1, and 51.2%). Changes in rumen osmolality and palatability due to diet were measured. Palatability was assessed by introducing feed directly into the rumen and measuring the subsequent oral intake. Eight sheep with rumen fistulae were used in two 4 x 4 latin squares, which allowed for adjustment for carryover effects. There was no significant (P<0.05) difference between voluntary intakes of lucerne conserved as sundried material and as silages of various DM contents (mean intake 1189 g DM/day). The lack of difference in intake was attributed to the high quality of fermentation of the silages. Rate of eating was also generally similar for all diets. Evidence from measurements of palatability and rumen osmolality support these observations. Palatability appeared not to influence the voluntary intake of any of the diets, because the sheep reduced their daily oral intake by an amount similar to that introduced into the rumen. Under normal feeding conditions, rumen osmolality was also similar for all feeds and was relatively consistent for the 9 h immediately after the start of feeding. While rumen osmolality per se may affect voluntary intake, the lack of response reported here for changes in osmolality due to diet support the lack of response reported for feed consumption.

Effects of dam breed and dietary source of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on the growth and carcass characteristics of lambs sourced from hill sheep flocks

“…Food intake and lamb performance Overall, the majority of lambs achieved DMIs similar to or above the reported intake range for sheep of 77 to 81 g DM/ kg live weight 0.75 (Etheridge et al, 1993). Consistent with earlier studies in which lamb diets contained whole oilseeds (Wachira et al, 2002;Demirel et al, 2004, Speijers et al, 2009, inclusion of oilseed rape had no effect on DMI, animal performance or feed conversion efficiency.…”

Growth Performance, Blood Metabolites and Carcass Traits of Growing Lambs Raised on Berseem Silage Ration

“…The main average of TDMI allover the experimental period was 1.219 and 1.156 kg for control and BSF, respectively which was ranged between 3.1 and 3.3% of BW. The amount of TDMI / kg 0.75 was slightly lower in BSF than control (76.2 vs. 81.6 g/kg 0.75 ) that agreed with those reported by Etheridge et al (1993) who found higher intakes of 77 -81 g/kg LW 0.75 /day when lucerne silage was offered to sheep. Feed conversion (kg DMI/kg gain) of lambs fed BSF ration was better than those of control lambs (8.56 vs. 12.46 kg).…”

Effects of genotype and plane of nutrition on growth and carcass characteristics of lambs from hill sheep systems

“…The majority of the variation found between breeds in food intake on the HP is probably due to differences in genetic potential of mature size . The majority of the DMIs observed were within the upper limit or above the reported range of intake for sheep of 77-81 g DM/kg live weight 0.75 /day (Etheridge et al, 1993). Intakes of Swaledale cross lambs on the HP-cereal/ oil diet fell below this range (74 g DM/kg live weight 0.75 / day), but remained well within an earlier reported range of intake for sheep of 20-75 g DM/kg live weight 0.75 /day (Dermarquilly and Weiss, 1971).…”