Short communication. Effect of concentrate supplementation and prolificacy on the productive and economic performance of autochthonous sheep breeds fed forage-based diets

Abstract

Sheep farming systems in Spain are experiencing an intensification process, characterised by a general selection criteria of enhancing prolificacy in ewes, and by increasing indoor feeding with concentrates to the detriment of grazing. This study evaluated the effects of concentrate supplementation and prolificacy on productive and economic performance of a local sheep breed in different price scenarios. Ewes were fed forage hay ad libitum, without (in pre-partum period, PRE-HAY; and in post-partum period, POST-HAY) or with concentrates (300 g/d in pre-partum period, PRE-CON; and 750 g/d in post-partum period, POST-CON). The inclusion of concentrate during the pre-partum period (last 10 weeks of pregnancy) had no effect on the productive performance of the ewes. In contrast, the inclusion of concentrate in the post-partum period (6 weeks), resulted in greater milk yield (1009 vs. 1275 ± 89 g/d), lamb average daily gain (151±12 vs. 225±19 g/d) and lamb output (kg of lamb LW weaned). However, the greater productivity thanks to the use of concentrates did not always turn into greatest profitability, since the economic margin was highly influenced by the cost of the diet and extremely subjected to variability in price of concentrates. Hence, the inclusion of concentrates in sheep meat production was not always justified in economic terms. In conclusion, the use of concentrates should only be considered as long as prices of commodities remain low, and inadvisable when prices reach a certain threshold or are subject to certain volatility in markets.

Ryegrass pasture supplementation strategies for lactating ewe performance

“…The same behavior was observed by Castro et al (3), who justified the loss of weight as a consequence of high nutritional demand in that phase and inability of some diets to meet that demand. Similarly, BCS loss was also verified in other studies (3,23).…”

“…In SEL, that positive effect was due to the higher milk yield of the ewe, because the use of concentrate feed during the lactation period positively affects milk yield and, as a consequence, lamb performance (2,23).…”

The effect of concentrates on production traits, biochemical parameters and thyroid hormones concentration in Dubrovnik sheep fed forage based-diets

“…In the research by MOLLE et al (1997), when lactating sheep are fed with pasture and the addition of corn grains, positive effects on body weight and physical condition of sheep were determined. RIPOLL-BOSCH et al (2014) did not determine significant changes in the lambs´ birth weight from feeding ewes with 300 g of concentrates in the pre partum period. A limited supply of nutrients to the fetus is one of the most important reasons for its lower development at birth (WALLACE et al, 2005) and postnatal growth (McGOVERN et al, 2015).…”

Effects of feeding strategies during lactation and the inclusion of quebracho in the fattening on performance and carcass traits in light lambs

“…Traditionally, lamb meat in Spain is based on the production of light lambs. To obtain this product, ewes and lambs are usually housed indoors during the lactation period . During this period, ewes are usually fed hay or straw plus concentrate, whereas lambs are almost exclusively milk fed until weaning at 45–50 days of age.…”

“…To obtain this product, ewes and lambs are usually housed indoors during the lactation period. 1 During this period, ewes are usually fed hay or straw plus concentrate, whereas lambs are almost exclusively milk fed until weaning at 45-50 days of age. Thereafter, lambs receive a high-concentrate diet to improve the weight gains until they reach 22-24 kg.…”