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Effect of Silage dry Matter Content and Protein Supplementation on the Performance of In-Lamb Ewes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 November 2017

Diana L Done
Diana L Done*
Affiliation:
Liscoabe Experimental Husbandry Farm, Dulverton, Somerset TA22 9PZ
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Extract

On the basis of experimental results, Forbes, Rees and Boas (1967) recommended that silage for pregnant ewes should have a DM content of at least 200 g/kg. Higher silage intakes and improved animal performance may be achieved by feeding silage of DM content in excess of this level.

Increases in lamb birth weight have been achieved with additional protein supplementation to ewes on hay based rations in late pregnancy (Clark and Speedy, 1981). The response to protein supplementation on silage based diets is less well documented.

In a 3 x 2 factorial experiment, 23A Border Leicester x Welsh Mountain in-lamb ewes, penned in groups of 18 or 21,were offered either an unwilted silage 199 g DM/kg) made with a formalin/formic acid additive (UA); a wilted, silage (287 g DM/kg) made with additive (WA) or a wilted silage (272 g DM/kg) made without additive (WO). The silages were offered ad-libitum from housing in January until lambing in mid-March.

Type
Sheep Production
Information
Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Production (1972) , Volume 1984 , March 1984 , pp. 147
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Production 1984

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References

1. Forbes, J.M., Rees, J.K.S., and Boaz, T.G. (1967) Anim. Prod. 9 399–408 Google Scholar
2. Clarke, C.F.S., and Speedy, A.W. (1981) Anim. Prod. 32 364 (Abstr.)Google Scholar