Some aspects of the behaviour of grazing sheep

J.A. Lancashire and R.G. Keogh

Grasslands Division, DSIR, Palmerston North

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Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 1966, 26: 22-35

Some aspects of the behaviour of sheep grazing different pasture species are described. Grazing and ruminating times were generally higher on Ariki ryegrass and Ruanui perennial ryegrass than on Huia white clover. The results are discussed in relation to liveweight gain, and the importance of behaviour observations in nutrition studies with the grazing sheep is emphasized.

The effects of two diseases on grazing behaviour are also described. Facial eczema caused a marked drop in the grazing time of a lamb on a Manawa ryegrass pasture, while no inappetance was observed in lambs apparently suffering from ill-thrift on a Ruanui perennial ryegrass pasture. It was considered that the results of yield determinations and chemical analyses of total nitrogen, non-protein and nitrate nitrogen, total soluble sugars, cellulose and lignin of the ill-thrifty pasture could not account for the severe and prolonged failure of the lambs to gain weight. The effects of a possible subclinical infestation of internal parasites are also discussed.

It was concluded that in future ill-thrift studies it would be important to observe carefully the grazing behaviour of affected animals.

Keywords: NZSAPAB;

Last Updated 24-08-2000