The whole empty body essential amino acid composition of finishing Merino and Dohne Merino male lambs was investigated. The amino acid requirements for growth vary considerably between these two breeds. Hence, it appears that whole empty body amino acid profiles…
An investigation was conducted to ascertain whether a source of feed lime (Ouplaas lime) high in manganese (5000 mg Mn/kg) is a safe feed ingredient for sheep. Two levels of Ouplaas lime, l% and 4%, were included in a sheep…
The energy and nitrogen retention of Merino and Dohne Merino lambs offered a feedlot diet were measured. The energy retentions of the two breeds were relatively similar (0.96 vs. 1.00 MJ/kg BW0.75), but the Merino lambs had a higher nitrogen…
The present study focused on gaining a better insight into how subclinical mastitis at the gland level in dairy sheep and goats affects milk yield and compositional changes in relation to curd yield. Animals chosen for the study had one…
The present study aimed to analyze the major factors that influence milk yield in Assaf sheep and Saanen, and Shami x Anglo Nubian goats, the major small ruminant dairy breeds and crossbreds in Israel. Six different farms with 745 Israeli-Assaf…
Diet selection of sheep and goats was determined seasonally using the microhistological technique to assess their trophic diversities, diet overlapping and preferences between the two species. The trophic diversities of both sheep and goats were higher in the wet than…
The sale prices of 1 609 Dorper rams sold between 1990 and 1999 were compared with their measured performances. An analysis of variance was carried out in order to determine which variables influenced sale price. The most importance factors were…
The present report focuses on how the differences in the plasmin (PL) system between sheep and goats are reflected in their response to subclinical intramammary infection (IMI), particularly in respect to casein (CN) degradation and milk yield (MY). Plasmin is…
A total of 497 Merino ewes were allocated to one of four experimental groups for the period 1996 to 1998. The treatments were designed to provide data on the effect of shade during an autumn lambing season and the effect…
The aim of this experiment was to determine the site and extent of digestion of nutrients in sheep fed broiler litter alone (100% litter treatment), broiler litter plus 7.5% sugarcane molasses (92.5% litter treatment) and broiler litter plus 15% molasses…
The aim of the study was to evaluate the nutritional value of Panicum maximum cv. Gatton for sheep production in three different seasons and at three different stages of maturity. More mature pasture, compared to younger pasture, resulted in lower…
(Co)variance estimates for birth weight, pre-weaning lamb survival and weaning weight were obtained for Merino lambs derived from 16 bloodlines. Between bloodline variance ratios (± s.e.) amounted to 0.10 ± 0.04 for lamb birth weight, 0.053 ± 0.036 for lamb…
The aim of this study was to quantify the partial digestion of organic matter (OM), nitrogen (N) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) in sheep grazing Panicum maximum cv. Gatton pastures at three stages of pasture maturity during summer, autumn or…
This study was conducted to evaluate direct and correlated selection responses to selection for total weight of lamb weaned per ewe joined (TWW), number of lambs born (NLB), number of lambs weaned (NLW) and weaning weight (WW). Data from the…
Twenty-four sets of full-sib ram lambs, each born from a different sire, were kept individually in pens and hand-reared from birth up to 50 kg live mass. Feed intake and mass of each lamb were determined every third day. Growth…
Non-ammonia nitrogen (NAN) passage to the small intestine and disappearance of NAN in that organ have been studied in multi-cannulated sheep on pasture or fed indoors. Forages under investigation included a number of subtropical grasses, foggages and hay, temperate grasses,…
Periodic restrictions in feed quality and quantity is an important phenomenon in regions where animal production should bridge the gap between periods of forage production separated by a dry season. Eighteen Swifter male lambs, weaned at the age of ca.…
Data of 23 189 Merino ewes (8 farms), 7692 Dohne Merino ewes (3 farms) and 2399 SA Mutton Merino ewes (1 farm) were recorded for the 1988-1991 lambing seasons. The udders of ewes present at lamb marking were inspected to…
The effect of high levels of broiler litter in the diets of sheep on sensory characteristics and composition of fat in mutton was evaluated. Thirty-six South African Mutton Merino wethers weighing ca. 41 kg were randomly allocated to four treatment…
The experiment was carried out to compare fababean with lupin crop residues for summer grazing by young Merino wethers. The crude protein (CP) and dry matter (DM) degradability as well as chemical composition of fababean and lupin seed and stalks…
