Supplementation of young Merino sheep grazing annual pastures with lupin, barley grain, or silage.
1993
Gardner J.J. | Spicer P. | Doyle P.T. | Rowe J.B. | Hetherington R. | McQuade N. | Crowhurst M.
Supplements of lupin, barley grain, or silage were given to Merino weaners (age 5-7 months; starting weight about 30 kg) grazing dry annual pastures. In one experiment sheep were given no supplement, lupin, barley or lupin and barley mixtures (metabolisable energy ratio, 1:3, 1:1, 3:1). All supplements increased liveweight change and clean wool growth rates compared with no supplement. There was also a trend towards an increase in total wool grown by supplemented sheep (3.81-4.00 v. 3.73 kg). During supplementation, clean wool growth rates increased as the proportion of lupin in the mixture increased, but there was no significant effect on the total amount of wool grown over 12 months or on mean fibre diameter. Supplements resulted in increased staple strength when compared with controls. It was concluded that supplementary feeding during the summer-autumn has little effect on amounts of wool shorn and fibre diameter.
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