A comparative study of herbage intake, ingestive behaviour and diet selection, and effects of condensed tannins upon body and wool growth in lambs grazing Yorkshire fog (Holcus lanatus) and annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) dominant swards

An experiment was carried out from August to early November 1994 to examine differences in diet selection, herbage intake, grazing behaviour and animal performance between weaned lambs rotationally grazing swards of annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum)/white clover (Trifolium repens) and Yorkshire fog (Holcus lanatus)/T. repens with or without Lotus corniculatus. There were four replicate groups of six lambs per treatment. The effects of condensed tannins (CT) on lamb production were assessed by twice-daily oral administration of 10g polyethylene glycol (PEG; molecular weight 4000) to half the lambs on each sward. The Lotus content of all swards was very low, and results are presented here for main sward comparisons meaned over lotus treatments. Overall mean estimates of pre-grazing herbage mass and sward surface height for the annual ryegrass and Yorkshire fog swards respectively, were 5820 v. 4360 +/- 190 kg DM/ha (P , P < 0.01) and liveweight gain (141 v. 120 +/- 4.3 g per lamb per day, P < 0.01), although differences in carcass weight (17.9 v. 18.2 +/- 0.3 kg) and FEC transformed values (9.6 v. 11.0 +/- 06 eggs/g fresh faeces) were not significant. The effects of CT on animal performance were greater in Yorkshire fog swards. CT had no significant effects on diet selection, herbage intake and grazing behaviour patterns

Animal Production over Rice-Pasture Rotation System: Animal Performance

Fluctuations in commodity prices, determine the need to find strategies to stabilize production in farming systems. The rice - pastures rotation systems are a good example of this, where animal production takes place in the moments where rice is rotated with pastures (3 years rice and 2 years pastures). In this context, INIA has developed a technology adjusted to the east of the country, with the use of summer tillage to intensify livestock production through the incorporation of lambs fattening. These technologies, comercially validated with sheep-rice farming systems, can move the process of cattle backgrounding (males and females), but requires technological adjustments related to planting winter annuals species and the strategic use of the supplementation and subsequent evaluation of the impact of these proposed intensifications of the livestock production phase and subsequent rice production. There are now new tools to study the feasibility of these alternatives (productive and economic) through modelling, but the validity of their results will be based on the certainty of technical coefficients. These coefficients must be generated in real situations where all the factors interact (Deambrosi 2009). The objective of the present experiments, was to com-pare livewieght (LW) per hectare, daily gain (DG) and weight gain (WG) per animal on an annual ryegrass (‘LE 284’) sown over rice stubble, used for calf backgrounding, under the effect of two stocking rate, in the north of Uruguay

Stocking Rate and Supplementation Effects on Performance of Lambs Grazing Triticale and Ryegrass Sward in Uruguay

An experiment was carried out from 9 June to 2 October 1997, using a Lolium multiflorum Lom. (Ryegrass) and X Triticosecale Wittmack (triticale) sward to evaluate the effect of stocking rate (SR; 20, 30 and 40 lambs/ha), and supplementation (S; with or without) on Corriedale lamb performance. SR had a significant effect on: liveweight gain (160, 130 and 90 g/an/d, P\u3c 0.01); greasy fleece weight (2.8, 2.7 and 2.3 kg, P\u3c 0.01); fiber diameter (28, 27, and 26 microns, P\u3c 0.05); rib eye depth (2.4, 2.1 and 2.0 cm, P\u3c 0.05); fat cover (3.2, 2.1 and 1.5 cm, P\u3c 0.01); hot carcass weight (17.7, 15.6 and 13.5 kg/an, P\u3c 0.01); GR (10.5, 6.6 and 4.2 mm, P\u3c 0.01) and boneless leg weight (1.56, 1.42 and 1.24 kg, P\u3c 0.05), for 20, 30 and 40 lambs per ha, respectively. At the highest SR, lambs increased grazing time (59 vs 52%) and biting rate (29 vs 26 bites/lamb/min). The mayor influence of S on lamb performance was found in grazing behavior variables: (grazing time (63 vs 50%, P\u3c 0.01); biting rate (26.8 vs 28.4 bites/lamb/min, P\u3c 0.01)), carcass characteristics: (hot carcass weight (15.3 vs 16.0 kg, P\u3c 0.05); GR (7.9 and 6.3 mm, P\u3c 0.05)) for with and without supplement, respectively. Over the experimental period (115 days), liveweight production and wool production ranged from 358 to 437 kg/ha for 20 and 30 lambs/ha respectively, and wool production from 55 to 93 kg/ha for 20 and 40 lambs/ha respectively. These results show the potential use of mixed ryegrass and triticale swards to produce high quality lamb meat even at high SRs, and the convenience of using supplements only when sward conditions are not sufficient to maintain an adequate lamb performance, particularly when high lamb SRs are used

Lamb Stocking Rate and Supplementation Effects on Mixed Triticale and Ryegrass Swards Characteristics

An experiment was carried out from 9 June to 22 October 1997, using a Lolium multiflorum L. (ryegrass) and Triticosecale Wittmack (triticale) mixed sward grazed by lambs in a rotational grazing system, to determine the effect of stocking rate (SR; 20, 30 and 40 lambs/ha) and supplementation (S; with or without) on herbage production, composition and nutritive value. SR affected significantly before and after grazing herbage mass and sward height, being higher the values of these variables at the lower SR (3232, 2611 and 2345 kg DM ha-1, P \u3c 0.05; 2557, 1761 and 1612 kg DM ha-1, P \u3c 0.01; 17, 11 and 9 cm, P \u3c 0.01 respectively). Increments in SR had an effect on post grazing sward composition, increasing the proportion of ryegrass (32, 36 and 47 %, P\u3c 0.05) and decreasing triticale contribution (68, 64 and 55 %, P\u3c 0.05) for 20, 30 and 40 lambs/ha. The effect of SR on sward nutritive value was not very clear. Before grazing, S affected significantly herbage mass, being higher the values at the supplemented treatments (2787 vs. 2672 kg DM ha-1, P \u3c 0.10). This experiment showed the high potential of forage production and nutritive value of ryegrass and triticale swards for lamb production in the sandy soil region of Uruguay, and the dominant effect of SR, compared to S, on most of the sward variables considered

The Effect of Stocking Rate and Lamb Grazing System on Sward Performance of \u3cem\u3eTrifolium Repens\u3c/em\u3e and \u3cem\u3eLotus Corniculatus\u3c/em\u3e in Uruguay

Lambs have a great potential to diversify and stimulate meat and wool production and economical returns within the industry. The main objective of this study was to evaluate different feeding and management alternatives for the production of high quality wool and meat as well as their effects on sward characteristics in the Basaltic region of Uruguay

Lamb Stocking, Grazing System and Supplementation Effects on Triticale and Ryegrass Swards Performance in Uruguay

An experiment was carried out from 3 of July to 22 of October 1998, using a Lolium multiflorum Lom. (ryegrass) and Triticosecale Wittmack (triticale) sward grazed by lambs, to examine the effect of stocking rate (SR; 25 and 35 lambs/ha), grazing system (GS; strip and 7 days rotational grazing) and supplementation (S; with or without) on sward structure, production, composition and nutritive value. SR affected significantly pre and post grazing herbage mass and sward height, being higher at the lower SR (3211 vs 2832 kg DM ha-1, P \u3c 0.01; 2443 vs 1939 kg DM ha-1, P \u3c 0.01; 19 vs 17 cm, P \u3c 0.01 and 10 vs 8 cm, P \u3c 0.01 respectively), increasing, at the high SR, the proportions of the ryegrass green leaf component, particularly in the uppermost layers of the sward canopy. In comparison with 7 days rotational GS, strip GS resulted in higher post grazing herbage mass, sward height and nutritive value (2387 vs 1996 DM ha-1, P \u3c 0.01; 10 vs 9 cm, P \u3c 0.01; 62 vs 67 % NDF, P \u3c 0.01 and 33 vs 37 % ADF, P \u3c 0.01). S increased post grazing herbage mass and sward height (2347 vs 2035 DM ha-1, P \u3c 0.01 and 10 vs 9 cm, P \u3c 0.01). This experiment showed the high forage productive potential and nutritive value of ryegrass and triticale swards for lamb production in the sandy soil region of Uruguay and the dominant effect of SR on swards variables comparing with GS and S

Influence of Low-Level Condensed Tannins Concentrations in Temperate Forages on Sheep Performace

Results from a series of six comparative lamb grazing trials with temperate forages are summarised, and compared with results from the literature. Condensed tannin (CT) concentrations in the diet ranged from 0.12% to 0.47% on a dry matter (DM) basis. Values were generally similar for Yorkshire fog (Holcus lanatus), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and annual ryegrass (L. multiflorum), each grown with white clover (Trifolium repens), in similar circumstances. Concentrations for tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea)/white clover pastures were relatively low, but may have been artefacts. Drenching with polyethylene glycol (PEG) to bind dietary CT generally reduced live weight gain, wool growth and carcase weight, though effects were only significant at CT concentrations. Use of PEG enhanced wool production in lambs grazing perennial ryegrass. It is suggested that a CT concentration of 0.5% in the DM represents the marginal value above which consistent advantages to animal performance might be expected, and that this concentration may be achieved in temperate grasses by appropriate plant selection techniques

Effect of Stocking Rate and Grazing System on Fine and Superfine Merino Wool Production and Quality on Native Swards of Uruguay

Modern textile tendencies show that consumers prefer light, soft, resistant, natural, and comfortable clothes, for which fine and superfine wools are in great demand, particularly at the high value markets (Whiteley, 2003). The main objective of the present study was to define sustainable stocking rates and grazing systems on native swards for fine and superfine wool production in the Basaltic region of Uruguay

Sustainable sheep production and consumer preference trends: Compatibilities, contradictions, and unresolved dilemmas

There are increasing concerns of society towards the consumption of animal products which have been produced and transformed in a sustainable manner. This trend influences consumer purchasing decision making, particularly in developed countries. On the other hand, in the next years, the pressure to increase the volume and efficiency of meat production will be much higher to cope with the expected unsatisfied demand. At least in part, current and future technologies could contribute to solve this challenge. However, the use of some of these innovations could have a negative effect on consumer preferences. There is no consensus in our society about this dilemma. The objective of this paper is to review the scientific evidence related to these topics and to analyze and discuss the effect of some of the extrinsic and intrinsic factors linked with the sheep industry which could affect the acceptability of lamb meat by consumers.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Effect of different finishing strategies and steer temperament on animal welfare and instrumental meat tenderness

The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of different fattening systems from pasture to concentrate and temperament on animal welfare (AW) and meat quality (MQ). Eighty-four Hereford steers were randomly assigned to the following groups: T1, pasture (4% of animal live weight: LW); T2, pasture (3% LW) plus concentrate (0.6% LW); T3, pasture (3% LW) plus concentrate (1.2% LW); T4, an ad libitum concentrate treatment. Temperament was assessed by three individual tests: crush score, flight time, and exit speed, building a multicriterial temperament index (TIndex). The flight zone was also registered for each treatment. AW was assessed through the integration of indicators of productivity, physiology, and behavior, as well as by monitoring the health status within each treatment. Shear force was registered for MQ. Differences in average daily gain were due to the different energetic composition of the diets (T4 > T3 > T2 > T1) and were not attributable to animal welfare problems. Animals from T4 had the higher average daily gain (ADG) but welfare was negatively affected, being evident through physiological indicators, the restriction or deprivation of relevant behaviors, diet-related diseases, and mortality. T1, T2, and T3 did not appear to compromise animal welfare. However, strict preventive measures and monitoring should be taken during the habituation process and when using any new diet that includes concentrate, because of possible dietary diseases. Shear force values were lower in T1. None of the animals in our experiment were excitable or aggressive, but there was a positive response to handling in all treatments. In addition, regardless of diet, calmer animals had higher average daily gain and lower shear force values; thus, temperament appears to have a significant influence on productivity and meat quality