1
|
O Mara F, Richards KG, Shalloo L, Donnellan T, Finn JA, Lanigan G. Sustainability of ruminant livestock production in Ireland. Anim Front 2021; 11:32-43. [PMID: 34513267 PMCID: PMC8420985 DOI: 10.1093/af/vfab037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Karl G Richards
- Environment, Soils and Land Use Research Department, Teagasc, Wexford, Ireland
| | | | - Trevor Donnellan
- Agricultural Economics and Farm Surveys Department, Teagasc, Athenry, Ireland
| | - John A Finn
- Environment, Soils and Land Use Research Department, Teagasc, Wexford, Ireland
| | - Gary Lanigan
- Environment, Soils and Land Use Research Department, Teagasc, Wexford, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Hurley M, Lewis E, Beecher M, Garry B, Fleming C, Boland T, Hennessy D. Dry Matter Intake and In Vivo Digestibility of Grass-Only and Grass-White Clover in Individually Housed Sheep in Spring, Summer and Autumn. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11020306. [PMID: 33530430 PMCID: PMC7911710 DOI: 10.3390/ani11020306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Feed intake and the digestibility of that feed are key drivers of animal production from grazed forage. This study compared the digestibility and voluntary dry matter (DM) intake of grass-only and grass-white clover (grass-clover) forage in individually housed sheep. The study was a Latin square design, repeated in spring, summer and autumn in 2017. Grass-clover and grass-only forage was harvested daily and offered ad libitum to 6 individually housed wether sheep per treatment. Digestibility of the forage DM, organic matter (OM), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) was determined using the total faecal collection method. Dry matter intake was similar on both forage types. White clover inclusion increased forage crude protein concentration in autumn and reduced NDF concentration in the offered forage, resulting in increased nitrogen intake in autumn and reduced NDF intake in all seasons. Grass-clover swards had a significantly greater OM and DM digestibility compared to grass-only swards. This could potentially result in increased animal production from grass-clover swards compared to grass-only swards. Abstract Intake and digestibility are key drivers of animal production from grazed forage. The objective of this study was to compare the in vivo digestibility and voluntary dry matter (DM) intake of grass-only and grass-white clover (grass-clover) forage in individually housed sheep. This study was a Latin square design, repeated on three occasions in 2017: Spring (27 March–29 April), summer (19 June–22 July) and autumn (4 September–29 September). Grass-clover and grass-only swards were harvested daily and offered ad libitum to 6 individually housed wether sheep per treatment per period. Digestibility of DM, organic matter (OM), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) were determined using the total faecal collection method. Dry matter intake was not significantly different between treatments. White clover inclusion increased forage crude protein concentration in autumn (p < 0.001) and reduced NDF concentration in the offered forage (p < 0.001), increasing nitrogen intake per sheep in autumn (p < 0.001) and decreasing NDF intake per sheep in autumn (p < 0.001). Grass-clover swards had a significantly greater OM and DM digestibility compared to grass-only swards (p < 0.05). This could potentially result in increased animal production from grass-clover swards compared to grass-only swards.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- MaryAnne Hurley
- Teagasc, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, P61 P302 Co. Cork, Ireland; (M.H.); (M.B.); (B.G.); (C.F.)
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, D04 V1W8 Dublin 4, Ireland;
| | - Eva Lewis
- Devenish Nutrition Limited, Lagan House, 19 Clarendon Road, Belfast BT1 3BG, UK;
| | - Marion Beecher
- Teagasc, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, P61 P302 Co. Cork, Ireland; (M.H.); (M.B.); (B.G.); (C.F.)
| | - Brian Garry
- Teagasc, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, P61 P302 Co. Cork, Ireland; (M.H.); (M.B.); (B.G.); (C.F.)
| | - Christina Fleming
- Teagasc, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, P61 P302 Co. Cork, Ireland; (M.H.); (M.B.); (B.G.); (C.F.)
| | - Tommy Boland
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, D04 V1W8 Dublin 4, Ireland;
| | - Deirdre Hennessy
- Teagasc, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, P61 P302 Co. Cork, Ireland; (M.H.); (M.B.); (B.G.); (C.F.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +353-25-42297
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Jones AG, Takahashi T, Fleming H, Griffith BA, Harris P, Lee MRF. Using a lamb's early-life liveweight as a predictor of carcass quality. Animal 2020; 15:100018. [PMID: 33487555 PMCID: PMC8169456 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2020.100018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Revised: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The commercial value of lamb carcasses is primarily determined by their weight and quality, with the latter commonly quantified according to muscle coverage and fat depth. The ability to predict these quality scores early in the season could be of substantial value to sheep producers, as this would enable tailored flock management strategies for different groups of animals. Existing methods of carcass quality prediction, however, require either expensive equipment or information immediately before slaughter, leaving them unsuitable as a decision support tool for small to medium-scale enterprises. Using seven-year high-resolution data from the North Wyke Farm Platform, a system-scale grazing trial in Devon, UK, this paper investigates the feasibility of using a lamb's early-life liveweight to predict the carcass quality realised when the animal reaches the target weight. The results of multinomial regression models showed that lambs which were heavier at weaning, at 13 weeks of age, were significantly more likely to have leaner and more muscular carcasses. An economic analysis confirmed that these animals produced significantly more valuable carcasses at slaughter, even after accounting for seasonal variation in lamb price that often favours early finishers. As the majority of heavier-weaned lambs leave the flock before lighter-weaned lambs, an increase in the average weaning weight could also lead to greater pasture availability for ewes in the latter stage of the current season, and thus an enhanced ewe condition and fertility for the next season. All information combined, therefore, a stronger focus on ewes' nutrition before and during lactation was identified as a key to increase system-wide profitability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A G Jones
- Rothamsted Research, North Wyke, Okehampton, Devon, EX20 2SB, UK; University of Bristol, Bristol Veterinary School, Langford, Somerset, BS40 5DU, UK
| | - T Takahashi
- Rothamsted Research, North Wyke, Okehampton, Devon, EX20 2SB, UK; University of Bristol, Bristol Veterinary School, Langford, Somerset, BS40 5DU, UK.
| | - H Fleming
- Rothamsted Research, North Wyke, Okehampton, Devon, EX20 2SB, UK
| | - B A Griffith
- Rothamsted Research, North Wyke, Okehampton, Devon, EX20 2SB, UK
| | - P Harris
- Rothamsted Research, North Wyke, Okehampton, Devon, EX20 2SB, UK
| | - M R F Lee
- Rothamsted Research, North Wyke, Okehampton, Devon, EX20 2SB, UK; University of Bristol, Bristol Veterinary School, Langford, Somerset, BS40 5DU, UK
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
McHugh N, Pabiou T, McDermott K, Wall E, Berry DP. A novel measure of ewe efficiency for breeding and benchmarking purposes. J Anim Sci 2018; 96:2051-2059. [PMID: 29684177 DOI: 10.1093/jas/sky143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2017] [Accepted: 04/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ewe efficiency has traditionally been defined as the ratio of litter weight to ewe weight; given the statistical properties of ratio traits, an alternative strategy is proposed in the present study. The concept of using the deviation in performance of an animal from the population norm has grown in popularity as a measure of animal-level efficiency. The objective of the present study was to define novel measures of efficiency for sheep, which considers the combined weight of a litter of lambs relative to the weight of their dam, and vice versa. Two novel traits, representing the deviation in total litter weight at 40 d (DEV40L) or weaning (DEVweanL), were calculated as the residuals of a statistical model, with litter weight as the dependent variable and with the fixed effects of litter rearing size, contemporary group, and ewe weight. The deviation in ewe weight at 40-d postlambing (DEV40E) or weaning (DEVweanE) was derived using a similar approach but with ewe weight and litter weight interchanged as the dependent variable. Variance components for each trait were estimated by first deriving the litter or ewe weight deviation phenotype and subsequently estimating the variance components. The phenotypic SD in DEV40L and DEVweanL was 8.46 and 15.37 kg, respectively; the mean litter weight at 40 d and weaning was 30.97 and 47.68 kg, respectively. The genetic SD and heritability for DEV40L was 2.65 kg and 0.12, respectively. For DEVweanL, the genetic SD and heritability was 4.94 kg and 0.13, respectively. The average ewe weight at 40-d postlambing and at weaning was 66.43 and 66.87 kg, respectively. The genetic SD and heritability for DEV40E was 4.33 kg and 0.24, respectively. The heritability estimated for DEVweanE was 0.31. The traits derived in the present study may be useful not only for phenotypic benchmarking of ewes within flock on performance but also for benchmarking flocks against each other; furthermore, the extent of genetic variability in all traits, coupled with the fact that the data required to generate these novel phenotypes are usually readily available, signals huge potential within sheep breeding programs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nóirín McHugh
- Teagasc, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland
| | - Thierry Pabiou
- Sheep Ireland, Highfield House, Shinagh, Bandon, County Cork, Ireland
| | - Kevin McDermott
- Sheep Ireland, Highfield House, Shinagh, Bandon, County Cork, Ireland
| | - Eamon Wall
- Sheep Ireland, Highfield House, Shinagh, Bandon, County Cork, Ireland
| | - Donagh P Berry
- Teagasc, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|