Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-7qhmt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-29T00:56:49.896Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The performance of twin-bearing ewes and their progeny when offered red clover, lucerne and grass silages during late pregnancy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2017

M.H.M. Speijers
Affiliation:
Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, Plas Gogerddan, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion SY23 3EB, UK
M.D. Fraser
Affiliation:
Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, Plas Gogerddan, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion SY23 3EB, UK
V.J. Theobald
Affiliation:
Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, Plas Gogerddan, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion SY23 3EB, UK
R. Fychan
Affiliation:
Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, Plas Gogerddan, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion SY23 3EB, UK
W. Haresign
Affiliation:
Institute of Rural Studies, University of Wales Aberystwyth, Llanbadarn Campus, Aberystwyth, SY23 3AL
Get access

Extract

Feeding conserved forage in the form of silage to pregnant ewes in winter is common practice in agricultural systems in the UK. However, silage as a sole feed in late pregnancy is unlikely to meet the nutritional requirements of ewes carrying twin lambs, and supplementary feeding is usually required. Evidence suggests forage legumes such as red clover and lucerne offer great scope for improving the supply of protein to ruminants (Frame et al., 1998), and feeding silage prepared from these crops could potentially reduce the need for protein supplements. The aim of this experiment was to compare the performance of twin-bearing ewes and their lambs when fed either ensiled red clover, lucerne or ryegrass during late pregnancy.

Type
Poster Presentations
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 2001

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

AFRC (1993) Energy and protein requirements of ruminants. An advisory manual prepared by the AFRC Technical Committee on Responses to Nutrients. CAB International, Wallingford, England.Google Scholar
Frame, J., Charlton, J.F.L. and Laidlaw, A.S. (1998) Temperate Forage Legumes. CAB International, Wallingford, England Google Scholar