Whole wheat grain feeding of Merino ewes. 1. Influence of level of wheat and vitamin A on water consumption, mortality and ewe liveweight

Abstract

In experiment 1, three levels of wheat were fed twice weekly to groups of 120 ewes in pens from joining to weaning. The wheat levels were: Ll , 3.4; M1, 4.0 and HI, 4.6 kg (fresh weight) head-1 week-1 and at each level one half of the ewes received vitamin A. A control group was run at pasture. In experiment 2, three levels of wheat were fed, twice weekly to groups of ewes from joining to weaning. At each wheat level 140 ewes were in pens (wheat/pen) and one-half of these received vitamin A; 70 ewes were fed wheat in small paddocks (wheat/paddock). The wheat levels were: L2, 3.9; M2, 5.5 and H2, 7.1 kg (fresh weight) week-1. A control group was run at pasture. Water consumption by ewes in experiment 2 increased curvilinearly with increasing wheat intakes and linearly with temperature and advancing pregnancy. Ewe mortality was not different between treatments in experiment 1. In experiment 2, 24 per cent of ewes fed wheat in pens at the H2 level died between the start of lambing and weaning. Wheat level significantly influenced ewe liveweights. Vitamin A had no effect on the measurements made.