Skip to main content
SLU publication database (SLUpub)

Conference paper2010

Performance of ewes fed long or chopped grass silage using different feeding strategies

Helander, Carl Walter Kristofer; Eilersen, R; Nørgaard, P; Arnesson, Annika; Nadeau, Elisabet

Abstract

Effects of chopping of grass silage and mixing of grass silage and concentrate on performance of ewes in late pregnancy and lactation were studied. Twenty-one ewes were fed long grass silage and concentrate separately (LS) or chopped grass silage and concentrate separately (CS) or in a total mixed ration (TMR). The silage averaged 10.9 MJ metabolizable energy and 578 g NDF per kg DM. The daily DM intake in late pregnancy was 2.6, 2.5 and 2.6 kg and in lactation 3.5, 2.9 and 3.8 kg for LS, CS and TMR, respectively (P < 0.10). The effective chewing time per kg DM intake was 272, 289 and 264 minutes in late pregnancy and 198, 253 and 210 minutes in lactation for LS, CS and TMR, respectively, with a significant effect of metabolic state (P < 0.001). Mixing chopped grass silage with concentrate increased the feed intake by 19% in lactating ewes. Chopping of silage increased ruminating time (P < 0.001) with no increase in DM intake. Ewes had a higher intake but a shorter ruminating time in minutes per day and per kg of DM intake and silage NDF intake during lactation than during late pregnancy (P < 0.05)

Keywords

ewes; grass silage; mixing; chopping; feed intake; chewing time

Published in

Grassland Science in Europe
2010, Volume: 15, pages: 524-526 Title: Grassland in a changing world : proceedings of the 23th General Meeting of the European Grassland Federation, Kiel, Germany, 29th August - 2nd September 2010
Publisher: Organising Committee of the 23th General Meeting of the European Grassland Federation

Conference

23rd General Meeting of the European Grassland Federation