Intake and growth performance of grazing lambs weaned at 4 and
12 weeks of age
K.G. Geenty and A.R. Sykes
Templeton Agricultural Research Station, Templeton and Lincoln
College, Canterbury
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production.
1981, 41: 235-241
The herbage intakes of lambs weaned at 4 (W4) and 12 (W12) weeks
of age were measured by chromic oxide dilution. Intakes were higher for
W4 (55, 78 and 91 g DM/kg0.75/d) than W12 (47, 56 and 63 g DM/kg
0.75/d) at 6, 9 and 12 weeks respectively. Total energy intakes were
0.87, 0.99 and 1.12 and 1.65, 1.44 and 1.14 MJ ME/kg0.75/d respectively.
Herbage and energy intakes of both groups were similar between 16 and
24 weeks.
Total energy consumed per kg of final liveweight between weeks 4 and 24
was 21% higher for W12 than for W4 lambs and 69% higher if requirements
for ewe milk synthesis were included.
Weaned lambs showed a tendency to preferentially select clover
Keywords: NZSAPAB;
Last Updated 12-09-1998
