The effects of herbage allowance and frequency of allocation, and silage feed value when offered to mid gestation ewes on lamb birth weight and subsequent performance

Abstract

It is essential to improve efficiency and reduce costs of production with decoupling of subsidy from production post Mid Term Review of the Common Agricultural Policy. Recent studies at this centre (Flanagan 2003, Keady et al., 2006) have shown that extended grazing (grazing during winter), either during mid, late or throughout pregnancy, provides a low cost system of wintering ewes. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effects of herbage allowance and frequency of allocation, and potential interactions during mid gestation on ewe performance, and lamb birth weight and subsequent performance. Furthermore a direct comparison of herbage allowance and grass silages of differing feed value was also undertaken.