Prediction of feed intake in the Italian dairy sheep

<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 8.0px Verdana;">Recommendations on feed intake for sheep are based on assessments of genetic types, feeding systems and environ-<span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 8.0px Verdana;">mental conditions that are very different from Italian ones. These considerations underline the need for intake data or<span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 8.0px Verdana;">models that derive from local trials. For this reason intake data of lactating and dry ewes, pregnant ewes, rams and<span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 8.0px Verdana;">growing lambs have been collected from selected literature based on sheep feeding trials mainly conducted on dairy<span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 8.0px Verdana;">breeds in Italy or in other Mediterranean countries. Equations and intake tables differentiated according to the physio-<span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 8.0px Verdana;">logical and productive categories, as well as feeding typology are reported. Particular consideration is given to pasture<span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 8.0px Verdana;">intake with supplementation, reporting three equations developed for three qualitative levels of the pasture, recogniz-<span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 8.0px Verdana;">able from the CP content of herbage: < 10% DM; &ge; 10% and &le; 16% DM; >16% DM. The equations include animal and<span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 8.0px Verdana;">pasture variables and supplementation, expressed as grams of CP given with feeds other than pasture. Only when pas-<span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 8.0px Verdana;">ture CP content is lower than 10% DM, supplement is not included in the equation, as no or negative substitution effect<span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;">&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 8px;">is expected.<span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;">&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>