Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2brh9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-30T19:13:53.975Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The energy requirements of sheep for maintenance and gain. I. Pen fed sheep

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

I. E. Coop
Affiliation:
Lincoln College, New Zealand

Extract

Four experiments have been conducted with sheep, housed and fed in pens, to determine the maintenance and live-weight gain requirements of sheep under such conditions.

1. Fifteen Corriedale sheep of initial live weight 115 lb. were fed at maintenance for 13 weeks. Daily DOM (digestible organic matter) requirement for maintenance was 0·92 ± 0·07 lb.

2. Twelve Romney ewes of mean live weight 106 lb. over the period were fed for 5 months, six on submaintenance and six on super-maintenance levels. Daily DOM requirement for maintenance was 0·99 ± 0·05 lb., and requirement for gain 2·29 ± 0·20 lb. DOM per lb. gain or loss.

3. Thirteen Romney ewes of mean live weight 110 lb. over the period were fed at sub- and supermaintenance levels for 8 weeks yielding the result: daily DOM intake for maintenance 1·04 ± 0·13 lb. and for gain 2·25 ± 0·24 lb. DOM per lb. gain.

4. Twenty-four Romney ewes of initial live weight 107 lb. were randomized into five groups and fed fresh grass, dried grass, sheep pellets, lucerne hay and rye-grass straw for 11 weeks at slightly below maintenance. There were no significant differences between groups and the mean estimate of maintenance was 1·00 ± 0·11 lb. DOM per day.

Converting these estimates to those of a 100 lb. sheep using the ¾ power of live weight, and then taking the mean gives the final estimate for maintenance of a 100 lb. sheep 0·92 lb. DOM, 0·96 TDN or 0·89 lb. SE.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1962

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Armsby, H. P. & Moulton, C. R. (1925). The animal as a converter of matter and energy. New York: Chem. Catal. Co.Google Scholar
Blaxter, K. L. (1960). Proc. 8th Int. Grassl. Congr. Paper 2B/6.Google Scholar
Blaxter, K. L. & Graham, N. (1955). J. Agric. Sci. 46, 292.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blaxter, K. L., Graham, N. McC. & Wainman, F. W. (1959). J. Agric. Sci. 52, 41.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brody, S. (1945). Bioenergetics and growth. New York: Reinhold Publishing Co.Google Scholar
Coop, I. E. (1953). J. Agric. Sci. 43, 456.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Franklin, M. C. (1952). Aust. J. Agr. Res. 3, 168.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Garrett, W. N., Meyer, J. H. & Lofgreen, G. P. (1959). J. Anim. Sci. 18, 528.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Greenall, A. F. (1959). N.Z. J. Agric. Res. 2, 639.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Halnan, E. T. & Garner, F. H. (1940). Principles and practice of feeding farm animals. Longmans, Green & Co.Google Scholar
Kleiber, M. (1947). Physiol. Rev. 27, 511.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lambourne, L. J. (1955). Proc. N.Z. Soc. Animal Prod. 15, 36.Google Scholar
Lines, E. W. & Pierce, A. W. (1931). C.S.I.R. Aust. Bull. no. 55.Google Scholar
Lofgreen, G. P. (1953). J. Anim. Sci. 10, 344.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Marston, H. R. (1948). Aust. J. Sci. Res. B, 1, 362.Google Scholar
Morrison, F. B. (1956). Feeds and feeding. Ithaca, N.Y.: The Morrison Publishing Co.Google Scholar
National Research Council (1949). Committee on Animal Nutrition. Recommended nutrient allowance for sheep.Google Scholar
Philipson, A. T. (1958). Proc. Conf. Scientific Principles of Feeding Farm Livestock. Farmer & Stockbreeder, London.Google Scholar
Swift, W. R. (1957). Bull. Pa. Agr. Exp. Sta., p. 615.Google Scholar
Wallace, L. R. (1948). J. Agric. Sci. 38, 93.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wallace, L. R. (1956). Proc. 7th Int. Grassl. Congr., p. 134.Google Scholar
Watson, S. J., Scott, J. A., Skilbeck, D. & Ellis, J. C. B. (1937). Emp. J. Exp. Agr. 5, 180.Google Scholar
Wood, T. B. & Capstick, J. W. (1926). J. Agric. Sci. 16, 325.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wood, T. B. & Capstick, J. W. (1928). J. Agric. Sci. 18, 486.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Woodman, H. E. (1948). Rations for Livestock. Bull. Minist. Agric. Lond. no. 48.Google Scholar
Woodman, H. E., Evans, R. E. & Eden, A. (1937). J. Agric. Sci. 27, 191.CrossRefGoogle Scholar