Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gxg78 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T15:40:59.757Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Net utilization of roughage and concentrate diets by sheep

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 March 2008

P. I. Wilke
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa
F. J. Van Der Merwe
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

1. Two diets, an all-roughage diet and a high-concentrate diet, were fed at two levels, a low level of estimated 1.5 times maintenance energy requirement and a higher level of estimated two times maintenance energy requirement, to South African Mutton Merino castrated male sheep, aged 13 months and in fairly lean condition at the start of the 93 d experimental period..

2. Body composition and energy retention were determined using the comparative slaughter technique and two series of digestibility and balance studies were done during the course of the experiment. Metabolizability of each diet was estimated and corrected for fermentation heat using the fermentation balance approach..

3. Although there were significantly different rates of energy gain on different diets and feeding levels, fat energy gained (% total energy gained) was similar for the four groups, i.e. 78–80..

4. Regression of energy gain v. corrected metabolizable energy (ME) intake indicated that the maintenance energy requirements of sheep used in this experiment were 310.2 and 302.3 kJ ME/kg body-weight0.75 per d and the values for net utilization of ME for body energy gain were 0.411 and 0.479 with the roughage and concentrate diets respectively..

5. It was concluded that the estimated maintenance energy requirements of sheep obtained in this study are realistic values and that the efficiency of utilization of surplus ME for the two diets did not differ significantly.

Type
Papers on General Nutrition
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1976

References

Agricultural Research Council (1965). The Nutrient Requirements of Farm Livestock No. 2, Ruminants London: Agricultural Research Council.Google Scholar
Association of Official Agricultural Chemists (1960). Offcial Methods of Analysis, 9th ed. Washington, DC: Association of Official Agricultural Chemists.Google Scholar
Blaxter, K. L. (1962). The Energy Metabolism of Ruminants. London: Hutchinson Scientific and Technical.Google Scholar
Blaxter, K. L. & Wainman, F. W. (1964). J. agric. Sci., Camb. 63, 113.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bull, L. S., Reid, J. T. & Johnson, D. E. (1970). J. Nutr. 100, 262.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Elliot, J. M., Hogue, D. E., Myers, G. S. Jr & Loosli, J. K. (1965). J. Nutr. 87, 233.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Erwin, E. S., Marco, G. J. & Emery, E. M. (1961). J. Dairy Sci. 44, 1768.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ørskov, E. R. & Allen, D. M. (1966). Br. J. Nutr. 20, 295.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ørskov, E. R., Flatt, W. P. & Moe, P. W. (1968). J. Dairy Sci. 51, 1429.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ørskov, E. R., Hovell, F. D. & Allen, D. M. (1966). Br. J. Nutr. 20, 307.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rattray, P. V., Garret, W. N., Hinman, N. & East, N. E. (1974). J. Anim. Sci. 38, 378.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Van Niekerk, A. I. (1965). Aspects of nitrogen metabolism of sheep with special reference to the rumen. MSc (Agric.) Thesis, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa.Google Scholar
Van Soest, P. J. & Wine, R. H. (1968). J. Ass. off. analyt. Chem. 51, 780.Google Scholar