The intake and utilization of milk and grass by lambs

J.P. Joyce and P.V. Rattray

Ruakura Agricultural Research Centre, Hamilton

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Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 1970, 30: 94-105

Two indoor feeding trials, involving 70 lactating ewes and 76 lambs, are described in which the milk production levels of these and the grass and ewe milk intakes of the lambs were recorded from birth until weaning.

Most lambs commenced eating herbage by the third or fourth week of life, but this was influenced by the level of milk feeding. Results of the experiment indicate that while the unweaned lamb appeared to be capable of utilizing pasture at 6 weeks of age, milk still represented the major source of digestible protein and energy. The rate of liveweight gain of lambs was highly correlated with digestible energy (DE) intake. 7.5-9.6 Meal DE intake were required per kg liveweight gain. These results are discussed in relation to early weaning practices.

Keywords: NZSAPAB;

Last Updated 24-08-2000