Nutritional constraints to lamb growth at pasture
type: CreativeWork
description: Intake and nutrient supply were measured in early weaned lambs grazing pure species swards of Rere lucerne (Medicago sativa, L), Huia white clover (Trifolium repens, C), Ruanui perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne, R) and Matua prairie grass (Bromus catharticus, P). A study of the factors regulating intake was undertaken with these young lambs and this area was studied in greater detail with adult sheep, which permitted repeated measurement of rumen digesta content. A preliminary experiment, conducted indoors, studied the effect of lamb age and cannulation on the development of rumen function in lambs weaned at 6 weeks of age and offered clover hay ad libitum. Cannulation did not affect intake (g.kgW⁻¹), in vivo digestibility or marker retention time in the rumen. However, liveweight gain was 22% lower in cannulated lambs than in intact lambs, but this may have been due, at least partly, to differences in weaning weight, as liveweight gain per kg digestible organic matter intake was similar for both groups. Intake (g.kgW⁻¹) increased rapidly from weaning until approximately 10 weeks of age and remained constant, at 36-38gDM.kgW⁻¹, thereafter. With increasing age there appeared to be a reduction in the proportion of apparently digestible organic matter intake (DOMI) and digestible neutral detergent fibre (NDF) intake apparently digested in the rumen, but this affect was largely explained by changes in the intake of cannulated lambs between the 4 periods of nutrient supply measurement. In a later experiment lambs weaned at 6 weeks of age grazed single species swards. Growth rate, intake and nutrient supply were measured during the subsequent 6 week period. Liveweight gain was higher in lambs grazing legumes (321 and 308 g.d⁻¹ for C and L respectively) than for lambs grazing grasses (230 and 227 g.d⁻¹ for P and R respectively). Nutrient supply was measured at 8 and 12 weeks of age. There was no difference in intake (g.kgW⁻¹) or site of nutrient digestion between these pe…
abstract: Intake and nutrient supply were measured in early weaned lambs grazing pure species swards of Rere lucerne (Medicago sativa, L), Huia white clover (Trifolium repens, C), Ruanui perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne, R) and Matua prairie grass (Bromus catharticus, P). A study of the factors regulating intake was undertaken with these young lambs and this area was studied in greater detail with adult sheep, which permitted repeated measurement of rumen digesta content. A preliminary experiment, conducted indoors, studied the effect of lamb age and cannulation on the development of rumen function in lambs weaned at 6 weeks of age and offered clover hay ad libitum. Cannulation did not affect intake (g.kgW⁻¹), in vivo digestibility or marker retention time in the rumen. However, liveweight gain was 22% lower in cannulated lambs than in intact lambs, but this may have been due, at least partly, to differences in weaning weight, as liveweight gain per kg digestible organic matter intake was similar for both groups. Intake (g.kgW⁻¹) increased rapidly from weaning until approximately 10 weeks of age and remained constant, at 36-38gDM.kgW⁻¹, thereafter. With increasing age there appeared to be a reduction in the proportion of apparently digestible organic matter intake (DOMI) and digestible neutral detergent fibre (NDF) intake apparently digested in the rumen, but this affect was largely explained by changes in the intake of cannulated lambs between the 4 periods of nutrient supply measurement. In a later experiment lambs weaned at 6 weeks of age grazed single species swards. Growth rate, intake and nutrient supply were measured during the subsequent 6 week period. Liveweight gain was higher in lambs grazing legumes (321 and 308 g.d⁻¹ for C and L respectively) than for lambs grazing grasses (230 and 227 g.d⁻¹ for P and R respectively). Nutrient supply was measured at 8 and 12 weeks of age. There was no difference in intake (g.kgW⁻¹) or site of nutrient digestion between these pe…
author: Cruickshank, George John
language: en
keywords: lamb growth, pasture, nutritional constraints, grazing intake, nutrient supply, herbage quality, ANZSRC::070204 Animal Nutrition, ANZSRC::070202 Animal Growth and Development
license: https://researcharchive.lincoln.ac.nz/pages/rights
date published: 1986
date modified: 2026-07-24T02:50:30Z
provider: Lincoln University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Lincoln College, University of Canterbury

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: https://hdl.handle.net/10182/1988