Effect of supplementary feeding and herbage mass on the intake and performance of grazing ewes in early lactation

摘要: 1. Two experiments were conducted to examine the effects of a cereal-based supplement and herbage mass on intake performance by Border Leicester × Scottish Blackface ewes nursing twin lambs in early lactation.2. In one experiment 16 ewes, individually penned, given four amounts (0, 320, 640 960 g organic matter per ewe day) offered ad libitum freshly-cut perennial ryegrass (organic-matter digestibility 82%). Intake total declined linearly with increasing (0·84 0·50 percentage units 100 respectively).3. second three 480 groups seven grazing sward high digestibility, maintained at masses either 500 or 750 kg ha. A further group unsupplemented grazed same 1500 Intakes digestible lamb live-weight gain, all significantly greater loss less tha n ha (P <0·05). The mean decline was 0·93g consumed. Amount had no significant effect gain weight nor mass. At mass, for than 0 day