Effects of herbage allowance on gummy ewe and sound-mouthed ewe performances during early — mid pregnancy

Abstract

Abstract The herbage intake and liveweight changes of older gummy ewes and younger sound-mouthed ewes were compared under grazing conditions during early and mid pregnancy. Five herbage allowances were offered, ranging from 1.05 to 2.00 kg dry matter (DM) per ewe per day with the two classes managed separately and with fresh feed breaks offered at 2-day intervals. The gummy ewes consumed herbage more slowly and left a higher residual herbage mass than the sound-mouthed ewes. This resulted in lower apparent intakes and gave correspondingly lower liveweights. At the same level of apparent intake, liveweight changes in gummy and sound-mouthed ewes were similar. Liveweight maintenance was achieved with an intake of 1.0 kg DM per ewe per day. This intake required herbage allowances of 1.6 and 1.3 kg DM per ewe per day for the gummy and sound-mouthed groups respectively.