The summer nutrition of weaner sheep: Herbage intake following periods of differential nutrition

Abstract

The influence of previous nutrition on both the intake of herbage and the body weight changes of grazing sheep was examined in two field experiments. In the first experiment, herbage intake and weight changes were compared at different stocking rates (three, six, and nine sheep per acre). The second experiment was designed to examine the influence of previous undernutrition on the digestive capacity of sheep and on their rate of consumption of herbage in the field. As compared with previously better-fed sheep under similar grazing conditions, the previously undernourished animals showed a capacity to compensate for their nutritional handicap at all stocking rates. Within a short time they reduced the body weight advantage held by their better-fed mates to a non-significant margin. Compensatory growth was associated with a significantly (up to 20%) greater herbage intake by the undernourished animals, but this higher feed intake did not cause an increase in wool production. Undernutrition did not influence the apparent digestibility of a diet, but was associated with an increased rate of herbage consumption under field conditions.