Abstract
A trial was conducted with two groups of ten Comisana lactating ewes to study the effect of concentrate supplementation level (Group L, 300 g mixed concentrate and 500 g hay; Group H, 600 g mixed concentrate and 500 g hay) on herbage intake, grazing behaviour, milk production and live weight changes. The additional 300 g of concentrate given to Group H had only a partial substitution effect (30% in terms of net energy). No differences were found in selectivity at pasture between groups. The data did not allow us to find any single criterion for selectivity. Ewes of Group L showed a lower biting rate than Group H (mean values: 26.3 vs. 29.5). Total milk production from Day 45 to Day 158 of lactation was 57.6 kg for Group L and 73.3 kg for Group H. Group H showed a better feed conversion index than group L (mean values: 2.02 UFL l −1 vs. 2.14 UFL l −1 (unité fourragère lait)). It was concluded that supplementary feeding, even at high levels, induced a beneficial effect on ewe lactation.
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