Theme 19: Use of Supplements

Description

Experiments have been carried out to determine the effects of supplementation upon milk production and growing performances with hair sheep Martinik ewes weighing 48 ± 4 kg liveweight (LW). In a first trial, 6 single bearing ewes (group GS) were offered individually a daily 0.5 kg of commercial pellets. They were compared to the control group (GN; 6 ewes) with no supplement during 10 weeks of lactation. Basal diet was chopped Digitaria decumbens grass ad libitum. In a second trial, level of supplementation was adapted to the ewes’ litter size: 6 twins bearing ewes (TW) and 6 single (SI). Mean milk production (oxytocin method) reached 1186 and 940 g.d-1 (P< 0.05) for GS and GN ewes, respectively. Body condition score (BCS) of GS ewes maintained during lactation while those of GN ewes slightly decreased (P< 0.05). No difference was recorded for lambs daily weight gain (DWG). Milk production varied significantly (P< 0.05) according to the litter size: 926 and 1246 g.d-1 for SI and TW, respectively. The BCS of TW ewes decreased more than those of SI ewes (-1.4 vs –1.0). Individual DWG were different (P< 0.01): 216 and 150 g.d-1 for single and twin lamb, respectively. It is concluded that use of supplements is necessary in intensive breeding conditions (high reproduction frequency and productivity), in order to allow high levels of performances when ewes are fed tropical forages.

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Use of Supplements for Increasing Performances of Suckling Martinik Ewes When Fed Tropical Forages

Experiments have been carried out to determine the effects of supplementation upon milk production and growing performances with hair sheep Martinik ewes weighing 48 ± 4 kg liveweight (LW). In a first trial, 6 single bearing ewes (group GS) were offered individually a daily 0.5 kg of commercial pellets. They were compared to the control group (GN; 6 ewes) with no supplement during 10 weeks of lactation. Basal diet was chopped Digitaria decumbens grass ad libitum. In a second trial, level of supplementation was adapted to the ewes’ litter size: 6 twins bearing ewes (TW) and 6 single (SI). Mean milk production (oxytocin method) reached 1186 and 940 g.d-1 (P< 0.05) for GS and GN ewes, respectively. Body condition score (BCS) of GS ewes maintained during lactation while those of GN ewes slightly decreased (P< 0.05). No difference was recorded for lambs daily weight gain (DWG). Milk production varied significantly (P< 0.05) according to the litter size: 926 and 1246 g.d-1 for SI and TW, respectively. The BCS of TW ewes decreased more than those of SI ewes (-1.4 vs –1.0). Individual DWG were different (P< 0.01): 216 and 150 g.d-1 for single and twin lamb, respectively. It is concluded that use of supplements is necessary in intensive breeding conditions (high reproduction frequency and productivity), in order to allow high levels of performances when ewes are fed tropical forages.