Winter feeding hoggets

K.R. Drew

Invermay Agricultural Research Centre, Mosgiel

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Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 1968, 28: 94-106

Romney hoggets fed swedes alone, or together with a hay supplement, were studied indoors and in the field over a 12-week winter period. Treatment groups indoors were: Swedes (1); Swedes plus 350 g high-quality lucerne hay (H.Q.H.) (2); Swedes plus 350 g average-quality meadow hay (A.Q.H.) (3); H.Q.H. ad lib. (4); and outdoors, Swedes (5); Swedes plus 350 g H.Q.H. (6); Swedes plus 350 g A.Q.H. (7); and Swedes plus H.Q.H. ad lib. (8). Hay for groups 2, 3, 6 and 7 were offered for 2 hr each day. Weight gains and digestible energy (D.E.) intakes were measured in all groups.

Important features of the results were: (a) Weight gains of sheep fed swedes alone were low relative to the D.E. intake when compared with the other treatments. The effect was more marked in the field. (b) Sheep fed swedes alone in the field (5) had feed requirements about 90% higher than similar animals fed indoors (6) (c) Sheep offered H.Q.H. or A.Q.H. for 2 hr per day as a supplement to swedes (2, 3, 6, 7) had similar D.E. intakes and weight gains. (d) When the daily consumption of hay as a supplement to swedes in the field was increased from approximately 110 g per head (6, 7) to 350 g (8), total D.E. intake increased by 35% and weight gain by 50%.

Keywords: NZSAPAB;

Last Updated 24-08-2000