Theme 07: Foraging Strategy
Description
The objective of this study was to assess the effect of protein/energy supplementation and sward physical characteristics on grazing behaviour of lactating ewes grazing Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.). The experiment was carried out in the spring of 1999 at the Universidade Federal de Santa Maria. The grazing behaviour was assessed in two periods: 2 and 3 September, and 8 and 9 October of 1999, using a group of twelve yearling ewes. Groups of four ewes were either supplemented (with 1% of the animals live weight) with soybean meal (protein source), with corn (energy source) or not supplemented. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomised block design with four replications. This experiment shows that grazing behaviour is more strongly affected by sward characteristics than by protein or energy supplementation.
Included in
The Effect of Feed Supplementation and Sward Characteristics on the Ingestive Behaviour of Grazing Ewes
The objective of this study was to assess the effect of protein/energy supplementation and sward physical characteristics on grazing behaviour of lactating ewes grazing Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.). The experiment was carried out in the spring of 1999 at the Universidade Federal de Santa Maria. The grazing behaviour was assessed in two periods: 2 and 3 September, and 8 and 9 October of 1999, using a group of twelve yearling ewes. Groups of four ewes were either supplemented (with 1% of the animals live weight) with soybean meal (protein source), with corn (energy source) or not supplemented. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomised block design with four replications. This experiment shows that grazing behaviour is more strongly affected by sward characteristics than by protein or energy supplementation.
