Publication Date
1997
Description
Components of short-term ingestive behaviour were recorded for fistulated and intact sheep grazing turves in indoor crates, and for esophageal-fistulated sheep grazing swards in situ in outdoor cages. Perennial ryegrass, orchard grass and white clover at vegetative and reproductive growth stages were offered to the sheep. Bite weight, depth, area and volume did not differ between sheep grazing indoors and outdoors, nor between intact and fistulated sheep. Bite rate of fistulated sheep was slower indoors than outdoors (25.3 versus 32.1 bites/min), and intact sheep had a higher biting rate (36.7 versus 25.3 bites/min) than fistulated sheep. Bite weight was over-estimated using extrusa collection, the average DM recovery coefficient being 1.32.
Citation
Gong, Y M.; Hodgson, J; and Lambert, M G., "Ingestive Behavior of Fistulated and Intact Sheep Grazing Grass and Legumes Indoors and Outdoors" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 67.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1997/session29/67
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Ingestive Behavior of Fistulated and Intact Sheep Grazing Grass and Legumes Indoors and Outdoors
Components of short-term ingestive behaviour were recorded for fistulated and intact sheep grazing turves in indoor crates, and for esophageal-fistulated sheep grazing swards in situ in outdoor cages. Perennial ryegrass, orchard grass and white clover at vegetative and reproductive growth stages were offered to the sheep. Bite weight, depth, area and volume did not differ between sheep grazing indoors and outdoors, nor between intact and fistulated sheep. Bite rate of fistulated sheep was slower indoors than outdoors (25.3 versus 32.1 bites/min), and intact sheep had a higher biting rate (36.7 versus 25.3 bites/min) than fistulated sheep. Bite weight was over-estimated using extrusa collection, the average DM recovery coefficient being 1.32.
