Winter supplementation of Merino ewes

K.H.C. Lewis

Invermay Agricultural Research Centre, Mosgiel

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Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 1968, 28: 83-93

Total feed intakes for the period of supplementation were the same. Mean daily intakes of digestible organic matter (D.O.M.) were estimated to be 340 to 420 g and 150 to 620 g for ewes fed at constant and variable levels, respectively.

Constant level ewes were more susceptible to pregnancy toxaemia than ewes fed at variable level but no consistent differences in lamb and wool production were noted. Where rations were fed weekly and twice-weekly, liveweight changes, lamb and wool production were similar to that following daily feeding but pregnancy toxaemia occurred where hay was fed weekly at a constant level.

Keywords: NZSAPAB;