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Estimation of the dry-and organic-matter intake of young sheep grazing a dry Mediterranean pasture, and their maintenance requirements

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

R. W. Benjamin ,
M. Chen ,
A. A. Degen ,
N. Abdul Aziz  and
M. J. Al Hadad
R. W. Benjamin
Affiliation:
Agricultural Research Organization, Qilat Regional Experiment Station, Negev Mobile Post 2, Israel
M. Chen
Affiliation:
Agricultural Research Organization, Qilat Regional Experiment Station, Negev Mobile Post 2, Israel
A. A. Degen
Affiliation:
Agricultural Research Organization, Qilat Regional Experiment Station, Negev Mobile Post 2, Israel
N. Abdul Aziz
Affiliation:
Department of Botany, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
M. J. Al Hadad
Affiliation:
Department of Botany, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
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Summary

The organic matter intake of two breeds of sheep grazing a dry medic pasture was estimated by five different methods. The methods used were the calibrated weight estimate for measuring available herbage before and after grazing; a total faeces collection and digestibility trial; a tritium dilution technique; an established ratio of dry-matter intake to water intake; and an estimation using established energy requirements and the estimated metabolizable energy of the pasture. All methods gave similar estimates. It was concluded that the tritium dilution technique was the most useful method and that the dry-matter intake to water intake ratio was the easiest technique to use. The relative merits of the different methods used are discussed. The maintenance requirement for grazing German Mutton Merino and Awassi sheep was found to be 0·64 MJ ME/day/kg W0·75. When both breeds were caged in an open field the maintenance was 0·37 MJ.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 88 , Issue 3 , June 1977 , pp. 513 - 520
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1977

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