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The rate of response of wool growth to abomasal supplements of casein

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

P. J. Reis
Affiliation:
C.S.I.B.O., Division of Animal Physiology, Ian Clunies Ross Animal Research Laboratory, Prospect, N.S.W., Australia
A. M. Downes
Affiliation:
C.S.I.B.O., Division of Animal Physiology, Ian Clunies Ross Animal Research Laboratory, Prospect, N.S.W., Australia

Summary

Casein in amounts ranging from 10 to 124 g/day was administered as an abomasal infusion to seven Merino wethers whose daily ration comprised 600–700 g of either chopped wheaten hay alone or a mixture of chopped wheaten and lucerne hays. Increases in both the length growth rate and diameter of the wool occurred at all levels of supplementation tested. When casein was infused at the rate of 100 g/day for a 20-day period the biggest increases in wool growth occurred during the first 4 days and there was little further change after the first 8 days.

There were marked wool growth responses to the infusion of up to 80 g casein per day. The results suggest that little further increase could be expected with the infusion of more than 120 g/day.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1971

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References

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