Effects of concentrate input on nutrient utilization and methane emissions of two breeds of ewe lambs fed fresh ryegrass
Date
2019-01
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society of
Animal Science.
Abstract
The objective of this study was
to evaluate if high-quality grass could sustain a
similar feeding efficiency to concentrate meals for
two breeds of lowland ewe lambs. Sixteen lowland
ewe lambs of approximately 13 mo age and
61.5 ± 5.28 kg live weight were used in a 2 × 2 factorial
study, with 2 diets (fresh perennial ryegrass
[Lolium perenne] vs. fresh perennial ryegrass plus
0.5 kg/d fresh concentrate) × 2 breeds (Highlander
vs. Texel). Grass was cut daily in the morning
from a single zero-grazing sward and offered ad
libitum. The animals were individually housed in
pens and fed experimental diets for an adaptation
phase of 19 d, and then transferred to respiration
calorimeter chambers, remaining there for 5 d,
with feed intake, feces and urine outputs, and methane
(CH4) emissions measured during the final
4 d. There were no significant interaction effects
between diets and breeds on any variables. Ewe
lambs offered 0.5 kg/d concentrate supplementation
had slightly greater DM intake and energy
(GE, DE, and ME) intake, but had significantly
higher N intake and N excretion in feces and
urine than those fed the grass-only diet. However,
diets had no significant effects on nutrient digestibility,
energy or N utilization, or CH4 emission.
Texel breed had a significantly lower DM intake
and CH4 emissions per kg live weight, whereas the
breed had no significant effect on nutrient digestibility
or energy or N utilization. These results
implicate that good quality grass could sustain
high nutrient utilization efficiency as effectively
as diets supplemented with concentrates for ewe
lamb production. The two breeds of lowland ewe
lambs can utilize good quality grass at a similar
level of efficiency.
Description
Publication history: Accepted - 29 September 2018; Published onlilne -11 October 2018; Published - January 2019.
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Citation
Wang, C., Zhao, Y., Aubry, A., Arnott, G., Hou, F. and Yan, T. (2018) ‘Effects of concentrate input on nutrient utilization and methane emissions of two breeds of ewe lambs fed fresh ryegrass’, Translational Animal Science. Oxford University Press (OUP). doi:10.1093/tas/txy106