Effects of short-term differential feeding in the autumn on
liveweight gains and wool growth of ewes
R.M.W. Sumner and P.V. Rattray
Whatawhata Hill Country Research Centre, Hamilton and Ruakura
Agricultural Centre, Hamilton
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production.
1980, 40: 209-214
In one trial, increasing herbage allowances (~1, 2.5, 4 and 7 kg
DM/ewe/day) were offered to groups of 3-year-old Coopworth ewes (n =
12/group) grazing at two levels of pre-grazing herbage mass (1200 to
1500 and 2400 to 3000 kg DM/ha), while in a second trial ~1, 2.5 and 4
kg DM/ewe/day of pasture were offered to groups (n = 20/group) of light
(41.4 kg) and heavy (57.2 kg) 3- and 4-year-old Coopworth ewes for 6
weeks pre-mating. Liveweight gain and wool growth increased with
allowance. Ewes offered the higher pre-grazing herbage allowance showed
greater gains and increased wool growth, while the heavy ewes showed
reduced gains and increased wool growth. A linear relationship between
wool growth and liveweight gain was unaffected by pre-grazing herbage
allowance, while the intercept for heavy ewes was greater than for light
ewes.
Keywords: NZSAPAB;
Last Updated 12-09-1998
