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Effect of sward height and sheep breed on sward composition during summer grazing period

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2017

A.R. Mantecón ,
E. Jaramillo ,
P. Frutos  and
P. LavÃn
A.R. Mantecón
Affiliation:
Estación AgrÃcola Experimental, CSIC. Apdo 788. 24080 León (Spain)
E. Jaramillo
Affiliation:
Estación AgrÃcola Experimental, CSIC. Apdo 788. 24080 León (Spain)
P. Frutos
Affiliation:
Estación AgrÃcola Experimental, CSIC. Apdo 788. 24080 León (Spain)
P. LavÃn
Affiliation:
Estación AgrÃcola Experimental, CSIC. Apdo 788. 24080 León (Spain)
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Extract

The sward height could determine the intake of the herbivores and, at the same time, to affect to sward composition (Morris et al., 1994). If the foraging strategies is different among species could be also different among breeds of sheep (Milne, 1991).

The objective of this work is to know the effect of sward height and sheep breed (churra and merina) on sward composition under irrigated and continous grazing system.

The experiment was carried out according a factorial design 2x2x5, defined by:

2 sward height (SH): low (LSH:<3.5 cm) and high (HSH:>6.5 cm)

2 Spanish breed of sheep: Churra and Merina

5 sampling periods: 1 (29.07), 2 (20.07), 3 (24.08), 4 (21.09) and 5 (19.10)

The SH was recorded three times a week and they were adjusted using variable stocking rates with spares similar ewes. Available dry matter (kg/ha) was 318 and 943 for the low (3.7 cm) and high (6.5 cm) sward height, respectively.

Type
Sheep Nutrition
Information
Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science , Volume 1995 , March 1995 , pp. 84
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 1995

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References

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