Herbage as a source of digestible organic matter and digestible nitrogen for the grazing sheep.

Abstract

An experiment is reported in which the digestible organic matter and digestible nitrogen intakes of Corriedale wethers grazing on improved pastures in a Mediterranean- type environment 1%-ere measured by the faecal index method from August 1957 to August 1958. The mean digestible nitrogen intake fell from a maximum of 50 g/clay in the spring to a minimum of 6 g/day in the late summer, and reached an autumn maximum of 13 g/day before falling to a winter minimum of 8 g/day. The mean digestible organic matter intake fell from a maximum of 1500 g/day in the spring to a summer minimum of 600 g/day, rose again to an autumn maximum of 1000 g/day, and fell again to a winter minimum of 600 g/day. The results are discussed in relation to the theoretical maintenance requirements of the sheep and the nutritional value of herbage.