Open AccessEFFECTS OF LEVEL AND DURATION OF PASTURE SILAGE SUPPLIMENTATION ON GAINS AND OVULATION RlZTES OF EWES
Author(s) -
P. V. Rattray,
K. T. Jagusch,
J. F. Smith,
G. W. Winn,
P Farquhar
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
proceedings of the new zealand grassland association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1179-4577
pISSN - 0369-3902
DOI - 10.33584/jnzg.1979.41.1534
Subject(s) - silage , zoology , pasture , ovulation , biology , estrous cycle , mathematics , agronomy , endocrinology , hormone
Increasing amounts (0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.0 kg DM/ewe/day) of chopped (10 cm) wilted silage (32.5% DM) was offered to groups of oestrous-synchronized mixed-age Coopworth ewes (n = 50/ group), grazing two restricted levels of autumn pasture (0.8 and 1.6 kg DM allowance/ewe/day). Gains over the 48-day trial .increased linearly with the amount of silage fed from -140 to 68 and from -65 to 105 g/ewe/day, respectively, at each allowance. Ovulation rates were measured by laparoscopy at two oestrous cycles. A linear model with logit transformation was used to determine treatment effects on the proportion of multiple ovulations. At both cycles there was a linear effect between multiple ovulations and level of silage intake and thereby sustained gain. Fine-chopped wilted silage proved superior to conventional silage for flushing.