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The duration of lot‐feeding of sheep before sea transport
Author(s) -
NORRIS RT,
RICHARDS RB,
NORMAN GJ
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
australian veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.382
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1751-0813
pISSN - 0005-0423
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-0813.1992.tb09851.x
Subject(s) - zoology , body weight , significant difference , biology , medicine , endocrinology
SUMMARY: Adult wethers (n=750) were lot‐fed for 13 days, 8 days or 3 days before a simulated voyage lasting 18 days to examine whether the period of lot‐feeding affected the proportion of sheep that ate pelleted feed and their body weight change during simulated shipping. There was no significant difference in the proportion of non‐feeders between treatment groups on days 7 and 14 of the voyage. Body weights were not significantly different between the treatment groups on days 14 and 18 of the voyage. Overall body weight loss, from the farm to the end of simulated shipping, was 4.08 kg (<0.28, s.e.m.), 4.58 kg (<0.28) and 4.51 kg (<0.28) in sheep lot‐fed for 13 days, 8 days and 3 days, respectively, and was not significantly different between treatments. It was concluded that lot‐feeding for 13 days conferred no advantage in body weight or numbers of non‐feeders compared with shorter periods in this study.