Publication Date
1993
Description
Herbage organic mailer intakes (OMI) were measured, using chromic oxide capsules, during the last 4 weeks of pregnancy in ewes due to lamb in June (winter) or August (spring). OM! (averaged across lambing date groups) were 1.4±0.1, 1.8±0.1, 1.8±0.1 and 2.0±0.1 kg OM/ewe/day (mcan±s.e.m. P<0.05) in ewes maintained at sward surface heights (SSH) of 20, 40, 60 and 80 mm respectively. There were no differences in OM! between June- and August-lambing ewes from pregnancy day 122 to day 125 (Pl22-Pl25), but between Pl35 and 139 June-lambing ewes had lower OMI than August-lambing ewes (1.5±0.1 v. 1.7±0.1 kg OM/ewe/day (P<0.05)). Live-weight gain of ewes was lowest on the 20 mm sward and highest on the 80 mm sward (157±34 v. 315±31 g/day, P<0.05). SSH had no effect on lamb birth weight. Preliminary data presented here suggest that, at the same SSH, June-lambing pregnant ewes can achieve OMI similar to those of August-Jambers.
Citation
Morris, S T.; Parker, W J.; Blair, H T.; and McCutcheon, S N., "Effect of Sward Surgace Height on Herbage Intake, Grazing Behavior and Productivity of Ewes Lambing in June (winter) or August (Spring)" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 17.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session37/17
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Effect of Sward Surgace Height on Herbage Intake, Grazing Behavior and Productivity of Ewes Lambing in June (winter) or August (Spring)
Herbage organic mailer intakes (OMI) were measured, using chromic oxide capsules, during the last 4 weeks of pregnancy in ewes due to lamb in June (winter) or August (spring). OM! (averaged across lambing date groups) were 1.4±0.1, 1.8±0.1, 1.8±0.1 and 2.0±0.1 kg OM/ewe/day (mcan±s.e.m. P<0.05) in ewes maintained at sward surface heights (SSH) of 20, 40, 60 and 80 mm respectively. There were no differences in OM! between June- and August-lambing ewes from pregnancy day 122 to day 125 (Pl22-Pl25), but between Pl35 and 139 June-lambing ewes had lower OMI than August-lambing ewes (1.5±0.1 v. 1.7±0.1 kg OM/ewe/day (P<0.05)). Live-weight gain of ewes was lowest on the 20 mm sward and highest on the 80 mm sward (157±34 v. 315±31 g/day, P<0.05). SSH had no effect on lamb birth weight. Preliminary data presented here suggest that, at the same SSH, June-lambing pregnant ewes can achieve OMI similar to those of August-Jambers.
