An evaluation of cereal stubbles for sheep production

Mulholland, JG; Coombe, JB; Freer, M.; McManus, WR

doi:10.1071/ar9760881

Cited by 27 publications

(11 citation statements)

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“…7). Nitrogen concentration of stubbles measured in our survey was 20-25% lower than has been reported in previous studies (Mulholland et al 1976;Roberts and Paterson 2001). These results suggest there are Genetics • Environment • Management (G • E • M) factors in modern crop production that have resulted in decreases in the nutritive value of stubbles, that are independent of any changes in the amount of unharvested grains or weeds.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 68%

“…Anecdotally, farmers consider barley stubbles to be of higher value than wheat stubbles, but whether this is due to higher levels of grain, the higher-quality stubble components, differences in the capacity of animals to select their preferred diet, or a combination of all these, is not known. Sheep actively select green pick in stubbles when it is available, Mulholland et al (1976) found that sheep diets were over 80% green material where green biomass was higher than 40 kg/ha. While predicting the feeding value of stubbles remains a challenge, the skilful integration of research should improve the ability to manage feed budgeting with stubbles.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The value of stubbles and chaff from grain crops as a source of summer feed for sheep

et al. 2021

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Context. Modern crop stubbles provide an important source of feed for sheep during summer but can vary widely in their feeding value due to Genetics • Environment • Management interactions during crop growth, and how chaff is managed at harvest. Stubbles are difficult to assess for grazing value, due to the heterogeneity of forage components (e.g. stem, leaf, grains), which means that livestock producers rely on their observations and experience to manage sheep grazing stubbles. Aims. To provide current information on the feeding value of stubbles, and to establish better methods for estimating stubble feeding value. Methods. In the present paper, we report the results of sheep grazing wheat-stubble paddocks and a survey of the nutritive value of standing stubbles and chaff lines and piles of grain crops (including wheat, barley, canola and lupins) from crop paddocks in the mixed-farming region of Western Australia. Key results. Without supplementation, wheat stubbles provided 50-100 dry sheep equivalent grazing days per hectare, before the estimated metabolisable energy (ME) intake of sheep fell below maintenance. This was influenced by ewe body condition score, where sheep of lower body condition gained more weight on stubbles (89 g/day higher weight gain per unit lower body condition score). Estimated ME content of edible chaff (leaf, fine stem and seed sheath or pod, excluding main stem and grain) was 5% higher in barley, 19% higher in lupin, and 5% lower in canola, than in wheat chaff, which was 5.9 MJ ME/kg DM. Implications. While the grazing value of modern stubbles is variable, they have an important role in the seasonal feedbase by providing several months of feed during summer. Chaff by itself does not meet the energy or protein requirements of livestock, so a high-protein grain supplement (e.g. lupins) is necessary to maintain non-lactating ewes fed only chaff. The increased use of chaff lines and piles at harvest, primarily for weed control, provides a new opportunity to fill feed gaps in sheep and cattle enterprises if the material can be transported and stored efficiently, or if grazed in situ, as is common practice.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 68%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The value of stubbles and chaff from grain crops as a source of summer feed for sheep

et al. 2021

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“…It does not supply sufficient nutrients to fulfil the high protein and energy needs of reproducing ewes (Aitchison, 1988;Brand et al, 2000). Owing to the low digestibility of wheat stubble, there is reduced intake (Mulholland et al, 1976), which results in a decrease in the nutrient intake by ewes. Supplementary feeding is needed for additional energy and protein (Aitchison, 1988;Brand et al, 1997a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of supplementary feeding to ewes and suckling lambs on ewe and lamb live weights while grazing wheat stubble

Brand¹,

Brundyn²

2015

SA J. An. Sci.

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A trial was conducted to determine the effects on the performance of creep feeding suckling lambs and supplementing ewes that were grazing wheat stubble. Eight experimental units of South African Mutton Merino (SAMM) ewes and lambs were used in a 2 (supplementing ewes or not) x 2 (creep feeding lambs or not) factorial design. Two groups, consisting of 68 and 100 ewes, grazed 12.9 ha and 18 ha paddocks, respectively. Each group was then divided into four sub-groups, of which two sub-groups received supplementation and two were not supplemented. Within each ewe group, two groups of lambs received creep feeding and two groups did not. Ewe groups were rotated between these camps each week to eliminate the effect of camps.

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“…The feeding value of crop stubbles varies widely, and the feed intake of sheep has been reported to range from 4.4 to 9.8 MJ/sheep/day depending on the crop type, grazing intensity, and whether green summer plants have grown in the stubble [2] .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, animal production from crop stubble is limited owing to certain nutrient de ciencies in the available material. The low productivity of animals grazing on crop stubble is also associated with low digestibility [1] and resultant low intake [2]of the available material. Crop stubble has low levels of nitrogen (N) and available carbohydrates, high cell wall content, and poor digestibility [1] , rendering it unsuitable to meet the high nutrient requirements of productive sheep [3] .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Winter Grazing on Cotton Stubble Affects Grazing Behavior and Feed Intake of Ewes

Halidai¹,

Yimamu²

2020

Preprint

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Background:In this study, we investigated the effects of cotton (Gossypium spp) stubble grazing during winter on the feed intake, grazing behavior, and blood chemical parameters of Altay ewes in Xinjiang, China. Eighty adult and twenty-five young ewes grazed continuously on cotton stubble from sunrise to sunset for 90 d during the winter, without receiving any supplementary feed. We measured the biomass and components of cotton stubble before, and at 1 and 2 months of grazing; the ewes’ feed intake and grazing behavior at 1 and 2 months; and their blood parameters and immunity indices at the beginning and end of the grazing period. Results: The biomass of cotton stalk was 5486.08 kg/hm2 at the beginning and decreased to 4340.90 ± 917.10 kg/hm2 and 3599.09 ± 689.56 kg/hm2 at 1 and 2 months, respectively. The proportion of cotton leaves and boll shells in each component of cotton stalk decreased significantly (P < 0.05). At 1 and 2 months, the walking time of ewes was 93.58 ± 3.08 min and 115.99 ± 2.25 min and the distance covered was 6.8 ±0.92 km and 10.2 ± 2.30 km, respectively; both increased significantly during the late grazing stage (P < 0.05). At 1 and 2 months, the feed intake and dry matter digestibility did not differ significantly (P > 0.05). The intake of digestible energy and digestible crude protein levels at 1 and 2 months in sheep were 7.91~9.58 MJ/d and 47.30~69.04 g/d, respectively, which were lower than the nutritional requirements of grazing ewes. Compared with those before grazing, the blood platelet count and iron concentration in ewes at the end of grazing decreased significantly (P < 0.05), whereas the concentrations of free gossypol and aspartate aminotransferase significantly increased (P < 0.05). The most common activity of the ewe’s day was grazing, the grazing time of ewes accounted for over 60 % of the total pasture time. Conclusion:Owing to the limited feed intake and digestibility of cotton stubble in winter, the demand for digestible energy and digestible crude protein in ewes cannot be satisfied by grazing alone.

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An evaluation of cereal stubbles for sheep production

Cited by 27 publications

References 0 publications

The value of stubbles and chaff from grain crops as a source of summer feed for sheep

The value of stubbles and chaff from grain crops as a source of summer feed for sheep

Effect of supplementary feeding to ewes and suckling lambs on ewe and lamb live weights while grazing wheat stubble

Winter Grazing on Cotton Stubble Affects Grazing Behavior and Feed Intake of Ewes

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