Pasture type in relation to live-weight gain, carcass composition, iodine nutrition and some rumen characteristics of sheep IV. Some rumen characteristics of the sheep

1963 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. T. Johns ◽  
M. J. Ulyatt ◽  
A. C. Glenday
Keyword(s):  
White Clover ◽  
Volatile Fatty Acids ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Iodine Nutrition ◽  
Rye Grass ◽  
Short Rotation ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Ruminant Metabolism

1. A preliminary study has been made of some aspects of rumen development and fermentation patterns in groups of ewes and lambs fed perennial rye-grass (P), perennial rye-grass plus white clover (P + C), short-rotation rye-grass (S) and short-rotation rye-grass plus white clover (S + C).(2) For ewes there was a significant effect on the weight of the rumen contents from the grass species. The treatment (P) which caused the lowest live weight gave the highest rumen contents weight. There were also significant pasture effects on empty live weight both from grass species differences and from the addition of clover.3. No difference in rumen dry-matter percentages was found between the four groups.4. There was no significant difference in the concentration of volatile fatty acids in the rumens of the P and S fed ewes but the addition of white clover had a significant effect.5. The S + C sheep had a lower proportion of acetic acid, a greater proportion of propionic and butyric acids and greater development of the rumen papillae than the P animals.6. With the lambs there were no significant differences in rumen characteristics caused by grasses but the addition of white clover caused a greater live weight and a reduction in the weight of the rumen contents.7. These results are discussed in relation to present knowledge of ruminant metabolism.

Pasture type in relation to live-weight gain, carcass composition, iodine nutrition and some rumen characteristics of sheep II. Carcass composition and the non-carcass components of live weight

1963 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Barton ◽  
M. J. Ulyatt
Keyword(s):  
White Clover ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
Fatty Tissue ◽  
Internal Organs ◽  
Iodine Nutrition ◽  
Rye Grass ◽  
Short Rotation ◽  
Mesenteric Fat ◽  
Omental Fat

1. The results of two trials with Romney ewes grazed on perennial rye-grass (P), perennial rye-grass with white clover (P + C), short-rotation rye-grass (S) and short-rotation rye-grass with white clover (S + C) are reported. Chemical and dissection analyses of their carcasses were made and the weights of certain internal organs were obtained.2. It was found that the sheep grazed on the P plots had the lightest carcasses (56·2 and 40·9 lb. in trials I and II, respectively), followed by those on the P + C (70·2 and 59·2 lb.), by those on S (74·7 and 61·2 lb.) and the heaviest carcasses were yielded by sheep from the S + C plots (81·5 and 69·1 lb., respectively).3. The weights of dissectible fatty tissue and chemical fat of the carcasses were related to the carcass weights of the different groups of sheep; the group with the lightest carcass weight had the least fat. The other components of the carcass (protein, water and ash) followed the order for group mean carcass weights except that the S carcasses in trial II had slightly less water, protein and ash than the P + C carcasses. The percentage chemical fat of the S carcasses in trial I was also lower than the P + C carcasses.4. In general, the non-carcass components of live weight (head, feet, skin, liver, mesenteric fat, omental fat, kidneys, stomach empty, and intestines empty) all followed the same pattern of increasing weight (P < P + C < S < S + C).

Pasture type in relation to live-weight gain, carcass composition, iodine nutrition and some rumen characteristics of sheep III. Effects of treatment with iodine

1963 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. S. Flux ◽  
G. W. Butler ◽  
A. C. Glenday
Keyword(s):  
White Clover ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
Iodine Nutrition ◽  
Rye Grass ◽  
Short Rotation ◽  
Thyroid Glands ◽  
Iodine Treatment ◽  
The Mean

1. The mean thyroid weights of ewes grazed on the different pastures (perennial rye-grass (P), perennial rye-grass plus white clover (P + C), short-rotation rye-grass (S), short-rotation rye-grass plus white clover (S + C)) did not differ significantly, but those injected with iodinated poppy-seed oil had lighter (P < 0·01) thyroids than the non-injected ewes grazed on the same pastures.2. Neither the live weights of the ewes nor their lambing performances were affected significantly by treatment with iodine.3. Lambs from ewes grazed on pastures containing white clover had thyroid glands significantly heavier than those of ewes grazed on rye-grass pastures. The largest thyroids were from the lambs of ewes not treated with iodine and grazed on S.4. The iodine contents of the thyroids of the lambs at slaughter, measured as percentage dry weight, did not differ significantly. It seems likely that the differences in thyroid weights were caused by factors operating early in the lives of the lambs.5. The lambs of ewes injected with iodine grew faster after weaning than those of non-injected ewes on the same pastures. The interpretation that this difference was in fact caused by the iodine treatment of the ewes was not wholly acceptable, because the differences in growth rate were not greatest in those groups of lambs showing greatest differences in thyroid weight.

Pasture type in relation to live-weight gain, carcass composition, iodine nutrition and some rumen characteristics of sheep I. Live-weight growth of the sheep

1963 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 187-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. L. Rae ◽  
R. W. Brougham ◽  
A. C. Glenday ◽  
G. W. Butler
Keyword(s):  
White Clover ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Iodine Nutrition ◽  
Rye Grass ◽  
Short Rotation ◽  
Weight Growth ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Difference

1. Two trials are described in which the live weights of sheep grazing four different pastures were compared. The four pastures comprised perennial rye-grass (P), perennial rye-grass plus white clover (P + C), short-rotation rye-grass (S), short-rotation rye-grass plus white clover (S + C).2. Large and highly significant differences existed between the mean live weight of the sheep on the various pastures in each trial. Thus the P sheep had a mean live weight of 107 and 102 lb. in trials I and II, respectively, at the end of each investigation, the P + C sheep 123 and 122 lb., the S sheep 125 and 126 lb., and the S + C sheep 140 and 137 lb.3. The differences in live-weight growth on the four pastures contain two major effects; an effect due to the difference between P and S and an effect which can be attributed to the presence of white clover in the pasture treatment.

A comparison of the effects of white clover (Trifolium repens) and of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) on fat composition and flavour of lamb

1967 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 367-373 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. A. Cramer ◽  
R. A. Barton ◽  
F. B. Shorland ◽  
Z. Czochanska
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Volatile Fatty Acids ◽  
Subcutaneous Fat ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
Longissimus Dorsi Muscle ◽  
Fat Composition ◽  
Branched Chain

1. The carcass composition, the composition and characteristics of the subcutaneous and longissimus dorsi muscle fats, the volatile fatty acids of the rumen-reticulum fluid and the degree of flavour and odour of the cooked 12th rib chops of two groups each of fifteen Southdown–Romney cross ewe and wether lambs fed respectively white clover and perennial ryegrass have been determined. The lambs had been on treatment for 5 months and were slaughtered when about 9 months of age.2. The white clover-fed lambs had a mean live weight at slaughter of 94 lb ± 9 lb compared with 67 lb ± 7 lb for the perennial ryegrass-fed lambs. The carcasses of the white clover-fed lambs had greater (P < 0·01) amounts of fat.3. The iodine values of the subcutaneous fats of the white clover-fed lambs were highly significantly greater than those of the ryegrass-fed lambs and this result was consistent with the greater deposition of endogenous fat.4. The extra fatness of the white clover-fed lambs was consistent with their greater production of rumen-reticulum volatile fatty acids.5. The maj or differences in fatty acid composition of subcutaneous and intramuscular fats between pasture treatments were the highly significant increases in shorter-chain saturated and C15 branched-chain acids of the ryegrass-fed lambs. In addition, the subcutaneous fat of the ryegrass group contained highly significantly more octadecadienoic and octadecatrienoic acids while the 1. dorsi fat of the ryegrass group was highly significantly richer in stearic and oleic acids.

The productivity of five grass species at six levels of compound fertilizer application II. Crude-protein production

1962 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Henderson ◽  
R. S. Edwards ◽  
J. L. Hammerton
Keyword(s):  
Protein Content ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Crude Protein Content ◽  
Meadow Fescue ◽  
Rye Grass ◽  
Compound Fertilizer

1. Data on the crude-protein content and crudeprotein production of five grass species (each sown with white clover) over the period 1954–56, at six levels of compound fertilizer application, are reported. Perennial rye-grass (S. 101), meadow fescue (S. 215), timothy (S. 48), cocksfoot (S. 26) and bent (N.Z. Browntop) were sown in 1953 at appropriate seed rates, each with 2 lb./acre S. 100 white clover. The fertilizer treatments were 0, 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 cwt./ acre of a compound of composition 10% N, 4%P2O5, 9·5% K2O applied in the early spring of each of the years 1954–56. The swards were cut three times a year in 1954 and 1956, but only two cuts were possible in 1955.2. Bent mixtures had a higher crude-protein content than any other mixture in all years and (with one exception) at every cut within years. Differences between other mixtures were smaller and often erratic, though timothy invariably had the lowest crude-protein content at the second cut and cocksfoot at the third. Application of the fertilizer raised the crude-protein level of the herbage at the first cut, but depressed it in subsequent cuts.3. The bent mixture gave the highest yield of crude-protein per acre followed by the timothy mixture, while the lowest yield was produced by the perennial rye-grass mixture. The bent mixture differed from all others in its distribution of crudeprotein production over the season, producing less at the first cuts and more at the second and third cuts. This reflects its pattern of production of dry-matter. Response to spring application of fertilizer in terms of crude-protein yield declined rapidly from cut to cut. Over the whole period of the experiment 1 cwt./acre/ annum of fertilizer containing 10% N gave a response of about 0·5 cwt. crude-protein/annum.

The production of fattening cattle and extension of autumn grazing following three rates of application of nitrogenous fertilizer to a rye-grass/white clover sward

1960 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Tayler ◽  
J. E. Rudman
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Live Weight Gain ◽  
Nitrogenous Fertilizer ◽  
Rye Grass ◽  
Nitrogen Treatments

1. Three levels of a nitrogenous fertilizer, supplying 0,104 and 208 lb. N per acre were applied in 1955 and 1956 to a rye-grass/white clover sward in its fourth and fifth harvest years on a loam soil overlying chalk.2. Levels of animal production were measured using fattening cattle maintained on the plots at a stocking rate of 1⅓ per acre: excess herbage was conserved and fed back to them later.3. Low rainfall in 1955 seriously affected yields of herbage and response to fertilizer, and severely reduced the clover content in all treatments.4. Rate of live-weight gain per head was not reduced by the application of fertilizer at either level. Vigour of the sward was maintained by fertilizer application in a dry spring period in 1956, whereas, in the control treatment, which was low in clover, gains per head were markedly reduced because of inadequate dry-matter production.5. By applying two-thirds of the fertilizer in late summer, a considerable extension of grazing time was obtained, particularly when rainfall was adequate. At the highest level of fertilizer application in 1956 the grazing season was extended from 6 months to 7½, and the cattle continued on conserved feed to a total of 8½ months. Response to the medium and high levels of application on grazed herbage only was 12 and 15 bullock-days per acre, respectively, in 1955. In 1956 the response was 46, and 67/59 (the two high nitrogen treatments). In terms of total live-weight gain per acre the response in 1955 to medium and high levels was 23 and 32% above control, up to 427 lb. per acre: in 1956 it rose to 51 and 52/55% with the highest treatment reaching 657 lb. per acre. Greater financial returns than are indicated by live-weight gain should result from the rising price per pound of carcass as the supply of fresh beef dwindles in early winter.6. Carcass data indicated that both greater rate of gain and the extra time spent on fertilized herbage and conserved feed increased carcass weight and maturity in the normal pattern of development, fat most rapidly, muscle next and bone least. No significant differences in conformation due to treatment was detected by analysis of grouped joints.

Productivity of S. 59 red fescue with and without S. 184 white clover under hill conditions: 1. Animal performance

1975 ◽  
Vol 84 (2) ◽  
pp. 265-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. A. Davies
Keyword(s):  
White Clover ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Individual Growth ◽  
Grazing Season ◽  
Red Fescue ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Weight Gains ◽  
Second Year

SUMMARYAn appraisal of the value of S. 59 red fescue (Festuca rubra L.) for grazing was made using ewes and lambs (Clun Forest in 1969, Welsh Mountain in 1970) at a site 305 m O.D. in mid-Wales. S. 23 perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) was used as a control, and the value of S. 184 white clover (Trifolium repens L.) in conjunction with both grasses was examined.In the first year, under a rotational grazing regime at a fixed stocking rate of 22 ewes and single lambs/ha, lamb live-weight gains were significantly poorer on S. 59/S. 184 and significantly better on S. 23/S. 184 than on either of the pure grass swards. For the 130 days grazing season, mean daily lamb live-weight gains were 157, 126, 78 and 120 g on S. 23/S. 184, S. 23, S. 59/S. 184 and S. 59 treatments respectively.During the second year lamb growth rates on S. 59/S. 184 improved by 59%, whereas those on the other treatments were marginally lower than in 1969. Stocking rates were increased on the grass swards and decreased on the grass/clover swards for most of the grazing period in the second year in accordance with herbage availability. No significant difference was detected between the four treatments in total lamb liveweight production as a result of better individual growth rates on the grass/clover swards.In both years wide variations were recorded between treatments at different periods within the grazing season. Red fescue swards maintained superior lamb production in early spring and late autumn, but were inferior to ryegrass in mid-summer.

Ground and pelleted straw and hay for fattening Israeli-Friesian male calves

1972 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Levy ◽  
S. Amir ◽  
Z. Holzer ◽  
H. Neumark
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Volatile Fatty Acids ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Nitrogen Retention ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Conversion Ratio ◽  
Crude Fibre ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Ground Wheat ◽  
Energy Conversion Ratio

SUMMARYThe performance of Israeli-Friesian male calves on six rations, including two levels (15% and 30%) of ground wheat straw and oatvetch hay in pelleted mixtures, and the same two levels of ground straw in non-pelleted mixtures, was examined.Daily live-weight and carcass gain were higher on the lower level of both roughages. The differences in performance on hay and straw were insignificant. Feed intake was higher on the 15% level of both roughages when pelleted but the energy conversion ratio was higher on pelleted rations of both levels of straw.The dressing percentage was higher for animals on pelleted rations. There was no significant difference in percentage fat trim, percentage bone or percentage saleable meat in the carcasses. There was 20% more kidney, pelvic and cod fat on the lower level of roughage.The digestibility of organic matter was higher on rations with the lower level of roughage, and on the pelleted rations compared with the non-pelleted at equal level of roughage. This was not the case for the digestibility of crude fibre. Nitrogen retention was significantly higher on the lower levels of straw and on the pelleted rations of a similar level, and was higher on hay rations than on straw rations. Ration differences in the molar proportions of volatile fatty acids in the rumen liquor were detected.Pelleting appeared to improve the nutritive value of straw.

Relationship between levels of iodine and cyanogenetic glucoside in pasture and the productive performance of sheep

1960 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. S. Flux ◽  
G. W. Butler ◽  
A. L. Rae ◽  
R. W. Brougham
Keyword(s):  
White Clover ◽  
Iodine Content ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Iodine Intake ◽  
Normal Weight ◽  
Total Iodine ◽  
Rye Grass ◽  
Short Rotation ◽  
Ewe Lambs ◽  
Iodine Supplementation

This paper describes an experiment designed to test the goitrogenic effect of white clover (Trifolium repens L) in ewe lambs grown and taken through a complete reproductive cycle. The sheep were setstocked on four pastures made up of perennial ryegrass and short-rotation rye-grass, both alone and together with cyanogenetic white clover. Since these species differ in iodine content when grown on the same soil, there were probably differences in dietary iodine intake of the sheep in the four groups. Half the animals in each group were injected intramuscularly with an iodinated poppy-seed oil to serve as an iodine depot.At slaughter, 19 months from the commencement of the experiment, thyroid weights indicated a goitrogenic action in the non-injected ewes grazing short-rotation rye-grass and white clover and to a lesser extent in the non-injected ewes grazing perennial rye-grass and white clover. There was evidence of a slight goitrogenic action in noninjected ewes grazing perennial rye-grass. The thyroids of non-injected ewes had similar iodine contents, lying within the range of 0·23–0·29% of the dry weight.In injected ewes, the total iodine content of the serum was three to four times higher than with non-injected ewes and the iodine content of the thyroids was three times greater. All injected ewes had thyroids of normal weight.No effects of iodine supplementation on growth, reproduction or wool production were found.Lambs born to the ewes in the fifteenth month of the experiment were slaughtered when 3–5 months old, the age varying with pasture treatment. Thyroid weights indicated a goitrogenic effect from the clover-containing pastures.

The energy requirements of sheep for maintenance and gain. II. Grazing sheep

1962 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 187-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. E. Coop ◽  
M. K. Hill
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Energy Cost ◽  
Climatic Factors ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Maintenance Cost ◽  
Weight Changes ◽  
Rye Grass ◽  
Faecal Nitrogen ◽  
Grazing Sheep

The intake of grazing sheep in terms of digestible organic matter, DOM, has been measured by faecal index methods, employing chromic oxide to measure faecal output and faecal nitrogen for digestibility of pasture. A regression equation for the prediction of digestibility from faecal nitrogen (organic matter basis) was developed from several series of digestibility trials with pasture, the equation beingdigestibility of organic matter = 30·84 + Four trials to measure maintenance and gain were conducted, as follows:(i) Thirty-eight sheep, comprising twelve wethers of mean weight 112 lb., thirteen small or thin Romney ewes of mean live weight 110 lb. and thirteen large or fat Romney ewes of mean live weight 166 lb. were grazed all together for 17 weeks on a rye-grass-white clover sward at an intensity such that live weight was just maintained. Corrections to intake were made for small live-weight changes.Daily DOM intake (lb.) for maintenance = 0·062 maintenance for a 100 lb. sheep becomes 1·48 ± 0·08 lb. DOM/day.(ii) Thirty-six weaned Romney ewe lambs of mean initial live weight 56 lb. were grazed for 8 weeks on a rye-grass-white clover pasture and allowed to gain in weight. Regression of intake on gain gave the equationdaily DOM intake (56 lb. lamb) = 0·93 (±0·07) + 0·90 gwhere g = gain in lb./day. Combining this lamb data with that of the previous trial yields the equationDOM intake (lb.) for maintenance = 0·052 (iii) Forty ewes, comprising eight Southdowns, twelve Romneys, eight Border Leicesters and twelve Border-Romney crossbreds were grazed together on short pasture (rye-grass-white clover) for 12 weeks. The ewes were of widely differing live weight and the mean gains or losses of the groups over the period varied from + 1·5 to −4·5 lb.Daily DOM intake (lb.) for maintenance = 0·061 which for a 100 lb. sheep becomes 1·63 ± 0·13 lb. DOM.(iv) Seven Romney ewes were grazed in high and eight ewes in low intake groups for 8 weeks. Regression of intake on gain gave the equationdaily DOM intake (130 lb. ewe) = 1·58 (±0·06) + 1·98 g.For a 100 lb. sheep this becomes 1·36 (± 0·06) lb. DOM/day for maintenance.The three estimates of maintenance of a grazing sheep of 100 lb. live weight 1·48, 1·63 and 1·36 lb. DOM/day are greatly in excess of the estimate of 0·92 lb. DOM/day for pen-fed sheep. It is believed that this difference is outside experimental error and represents a true increase in energy cost due to grazing. It is suggested that the cause of this derives from the energy costs of walking and harvesting the pasture together with climatic factors wind, cold and rain. The exponent of live weight agrees well with the estimates of other workers based on pen-fed animals. The energy cost of gain is less than that of pen-fed sheep and it is suggested that this is due to the maintenance cost decreasing with increasing availability of pasture and with increasing gain.

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