Examining the Effects of Whole Crop Wheat Silage on Ewe Performance during Late Gestation Compared to Traditional Grass Silage across Three Prolific Breed Types.

Jonathan T Higgins,Joe Jones,M Bridget Lynch,Tommy M Boland,Mary Mcevoy,Fiona Mcgovern,Stephen Lott,Dermot Campion

doi:10.3390/ani10091554

Abstract

Simple SummaryNutrition of the ewe during late pregnancy can impact the subsequent performance of the ewe and her lambs. In indoor lambing systems, grass silage is the predominant forage used but is of sub-optimal quality. This study examined the potential of whole crop cereal silage when offered to one of three prolific breed types in late pregnancy. With the exception of reduced crude protein intake on the whole crop wheat silage diets, nutrient intake or ewe body reserves were not affected by forage type. However, ewes offered whole crop wheat silage-based diets produced smaller lambs. Mule ewes produced lower volumes of colostrum in the first 18 h after lambing reflecting a lower nutrient intake during late pregnancy. Maternal nutrition and breed type merit careful consideration in prolific sheep production systems to ensure lamb welfare and survivability are not compromised.Provision of adequate nutrient intake in late gestation of the ewe is an important determinant of dam and offspring performance. A 2 × 3 factorial design experiment examining two forage types, whole crop wheat silage (WCWS) or grass silage (GS) offered to one of three prolific breed types, (Belclare X, Lleyn X, Mule (Bluefaced Leicester × Blackface Mountain)), was conducted. Forage type had no impact on dry matter (DM) or metabolizable energy (ME) intake, body weight and body condition score change, or colostrum production (p > 0.05). Ewes offered WCWS had lower crude protein (CP) intake (p < 0.0001) and a lower combined litter weight (p < 0.05). Mule ewes consumed less DM, CP, (p < 0.05), and ME (p < 0.01) compared to Belclare X and Lleyn X ewes however, water intake per kg DM consumed did not differ with breed type (p > 0.05). Colostrum yield over the first 18 h postpartum was lower for Mule ewes compared to other breed types (p < 0.05). In conclusion, results from this study suggest nutrient concentration and balance as opposed to forage type is important for late gestation nutrition and breed type can impact feed intake and colostrum yield.

Highlights

Grazed grass is the most economical feed source for sheep in temperate regions of the world [1,2], climatic conditions limit grass growth during the winter months [3,4,5]
Mean daily dry matter (DM) and metabolizable energy (ME) intake were unaffected by forage type (p > 0.05), while ewes offered grass silage (GS) achieved higher mean daily intakes of crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) (p < 0.001)
When expressed per kg ewe body weight (BW), DM and nutrient (ME, CP, NDF) intakes followed the same pattern as absolute DM and nutrient intakes (p < 0.05)

Summary

Introduction

Grazed grass is the most economical feed source for sheep in temperate regions of the world [1,2], climatic conditions limit grass growth during the winter months [3,4,5] During this winter period, ewes in Ireland and elsewhere are often housed and offered conserved forage, predominantly grass silage [6,7,8], despite grass silage frequently being incapable of meeting the nutrient requirement of ewes, especially multiple bearing ewes, during late pregnancy [9,10]. Total feed cost € GJ·metabolisable energy (ME)−1 of whole crop wheat silage is lower than grass silage [2], with DM of whole crop wheat silage ranging from 250–450 g DM· kg−1 fresh weight (FW [17]) compared to grass silage, which averages 217 g DM·kg−1 FW [2] This potentially provides the ewe with a more nutrient-dense feed source when rumen capacity is restricted in late gestation [18,19]

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Conclusion