dairy sheep farming and nutrition u. bernabucci department of animal production university of tuscia...

Dairy sheep farming and nutritionDairy sheep farming and nutrition

U. BernabucciU. BernabucciDepartment of Animal ProductionDepartment of Animal Production

University of Tuscia – ViterboUniversity of Tuscia – Viterbobernab@unitus.itbernab@unitus.it

Main Dairy Sheep Breeds reared in Italy

Massese Breed

Sarda Breed

Comisana Breed

Department of Animal Production

See: http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/sheep/

O N D G F M A M G L A SM e si

Disp onib ilitàfo ra g g ie ra

Plurip a re

Prim ip a re asciut t a asciut taasciut t al a t t a z i o n e

l a t t a z i o n e

Schematic representation of the productive cycle of dairy sheep in Central Italy in relation with pasture availability

Dry Dry

Dry

Lactation

Lactation

Primiparous

Pluriparous

Months

Grazing forage

availability

J J J

Department of Animal Production

Structural characteristics Mean SDSheep flock size (adult heads) 303 (293)Farm size (total surface available-ha) 37 (38)Total land rent (%) 52 (37)Seasonal land rent (%) 24 (34)Annual land rent (%) 28 (34)Farm fragments (n°) 2,1 (1,0)Distance of fragments from farmcentre (Km)

1,4 (1,2)

Annual hay availability/sheep (Kg) 231 (165)Average stocking rate (maturesheep/ha)

8,7 (4,1)

Structural characteristics of dairy sheep farms

Department of Animal Production

Forages

PastureHay

Silage

Department of Animal Production

Forage management Forage management

in the dairy sheep farming systemin the dairy sheep farming system

Environmentand

landscape

Agronomicmanagement

Animalmanagement

Soil Characteristics

Agronomic operations

Grazing technique

Animalhealth

Quantity of

forage Biomass

Forage species

Climatic and topographic

condition

Animalpressure

Productivelevel

Quality of the animal

products

Forage quality

Forage sources for dairy sheep farming

Trifolium incarnatum L. + Avena sativa L.

Avena sativa L. + Vicia villosa Roth.

24%

Trifolium squarroso L.2%

Trifolium incarnatum L.58%

Medicago sativa L .11%

Festuca arundinacea Schreb . +

Dactilis glomerata L.+Phleum pratense L. +

Lotus corniculatum L. + Trifolium repens L.

2%

Medicago sativa L. + Festuca arundinacea

Schreb.

Medicago sativa L. + Dactilis glomerata L. + Lotus cornicolatus L .

3%

Perennial 2%

Annual 84%

Permanent 14%

Department of Animal Production

Forages

Pasture

Department of Animal Production

Ott Nov Dic Gen Feb Mar Apr Mag Giu Lug Ago Set

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Gra

ss h

eigh

t (cm

)

Month

Grazing forage availability during the year estimated by grass height

Department of Animal Production

Schematic representation of the relative grazing forage utilisation in dairy sheep

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

% D

M

Hay Straw Grassland areas Silage Temporary grassland

% of grazed area / total usable area

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Jan Feb Mar Apr Maj Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec

Months

% h

ecta

re

Cereal strawpastures

Permanentgrassland pastures

Alfalfa praires

Annual mixedcrops

Annual clovercrops

Department of Animal Production

Variation of stocking rate during the year

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

Jan Feb Mar Apr Maj Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec

Months

Mat

ure

sh

ee

p /

he

ctar

e (

n°)

Department of Animal Production

DM CP NDF ADF ADL NSC FUMP/kg

Mixed 18.9 20.9 44.9 28.9 5.4 20.6 0.83 7.1 5.4 6.5 5.7 2.2 7.3 0.08

Gramineae 16.0 21.1 50.6 30.6 3.8 14.0 0.78 0.8 6.7 4.1 2.3 0.7 3.1 0.06

Clover 16.9 21.4 43.9 28.8 6.1 20.8 0.79 9.1 4.3 7.0 6.5 2.5 6.5 0.09

Mixed field 19.3 18.5 45.8 31.6 6.1 23.2 0.80 9.2 5.8 5.8 4.5 1.7 5.7 0.07

Nutritive value of pastures(% of DM; means ± SD)

Department of Animal Production

DM CP NDF ADF ADL NSC FUMP/kg

Mixed 18.9 20.9 44.9 28.9 5.4 20.6 0.83 7.1 5.4 6.5 5.7 2.2 7.3 0.08

Gramineae 16.0 21.1 50.6 30.6 3.8 14.0 0.78 0.8 6.7 4.1 2.3 0.7 3.1 0.06

Clover 16.9 21.4 43.9 28.8 6.1 20.8 0.79 9.1 4.3 7.0 6.5 2.5 6.5 0.09

Mixed field 19.3 18.5 45.8 31.6 6.1 23.2 0.80 9.2 5.8 5.8 4.5 1.7 5.7 0.07

Nutritive value of pastures (% of DM; means ± SD)

Department of Animal Production

Nutritive value of pasture during the year (% of DM; means ± SD)

DM CP NDF ADF ADL NSC FUMP/kg

Oct-Dec 19.4 22.4 45.0 28.7 4.8 16.8 0.83 6.1 4.0 4.9 5.6 2.2 6.7 0.05

Jen-Mar 19.1 22.6 42.2 26.5 4.9 21.7 0.85 7.0 4.9 5.6 4.7 2.1 7.1 0.06

Apr-Jun 16.9 18.4 47.1 31.7 6.7 21.8 0.77 9.3 5.1 7.4 5.9 1.9 6.3 0.09

Jul-Sept Grazing on straw:low energy and protein values

Department of Animal Production

Protein, NDF and forage unit for milk production contents of pasture

(% on DM)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

65

26 - Gen 7 - Feb 20 - Feb 6 - Mar 6 - Apr 20 - Apr 4 - Mag 18 - Mag 6 - Giug 26 - Giug

Cru

de

pro

tein

si, N

DF

(%)

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

1.0

1.1

FU

MP

(U/k

g)

Department of Animal Production

Forages

Hay

Department of Animal Production

DM CP NDF ADF ADL NSC FUMP/kg

Italian 89.2 13.1 59.3 42.6 9.5 17.1 0.64ryegrass 4.6 3.3 7.2 4.8 2.3 6.3 0.07

Mixed 85.5 12.3 58.6 42.0 9.2 19.2 0.63 5,0 3.6 7.4 5.0 2.9 7.6 0.05

Alfalfa 88.1 17.8 54.9 39.8 10.3 16.2 0.65 4.2 2.6 7.5 5.3 3.0 6.3 0.07

Nutritive value of hays (% of DM; means ± SD)

Department of Animal Production

Forages

Silage

Department of Animal Production

DM CP NDF ADF ADL NSC FUMP pH NH3

Italian 33.0 9.8 56.1 43.3 7.0 21.7 0.65 4.5 9.8ryegrass 5.7 2.6 10.7 12.6 3.1 11.5 0.12 0.4 7.9

Corn 34.2 8.3 47.0 31.7 5.9 35.0 0.81 3.9 4.1 4.6 2.7 6.8 5.5 2.2 8.1 0.08 0.3 0.8

Clover 39.3 15.6 56.0 42.0 10.4 17.6 0.70 4.5 7.713.1 4.6 2.2 1.1 2.0 4.0 0.08 0.5 1.2

Alfalfa 37.4 15.9 56.3 41.7 9.2 16.2 0.66 4.4 5.7 14.2 4.4 4.4 3.1 2.0 4.8 0.06 0.5 1.3

NH3 = % NH3-N / Total - N

Nutritive value of silage (% of DM; means ± SD)

2025303540455055606570

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Month

Pas

ture

, hay

(%)

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Sila

ge (%

)

Relative utilisation of forages in the diet of dairy sheep during the year

Hay Pasture Silage

Department of Animal Production

Concentrate utilisation

Department of Animal Production

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

Ott Nov Dic Gen Feb Mar Apr Mag Giu Lug Ago Set

Month

Con

cent

rate

(g/

head

/day

)

Concentrate fed during the year

No changes in characteristics just in the amount fed

Department of Animal Production

Requirements

Department of Animal Production

Requirements of energy and protein for dairy sheep

FUMP CP (g)40 kg of LW 0.53 8060 kg of LW 0.71 10480 kg of LW 0.88 122

FUMP = Fodder Unit for milk productionLW = Live weight

Maintenance

Department of Animal Production

Requirements of energy and protein for dairy sheep

Days before lambing Weight oflambs at birth 30-45 15-30 0-15

FUMP CP FUMP CP FUMP CP

4 0.07 32 0.17 62 0.31 79 6 0.10 48 0.27 88 0.46 110 8 0.12 65 0.36 114 0.56 142 10 0.14 76 0.38 140 0.64 173

FUMP = Fodder Unit for milk production; CP = crude protein (g)

Pregnancyvalues to be added to ‘Maintenance’

Requirements of energy and protein for dairy sheep

Milk composition Requirements per litre

Fat, % Protein, % FUMP CP

6.2 5.3 0.62 130 6.5 5.5 0.64 135 7.5 6.0 0.72 140 8.0 6.2 0.75 144

Lactationvalues to be added to ‘Maintenance’

FUMP = Fodder Unit for milk production; CP = crude protein (g)

Critical phases in the dairy sheep production system

Department of Animal Production

Oct Sept

Milk yield and energy requirements of dairy ewes

Lam

bs

0

300

600

900

1200

1500

1800

2100

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350

Days in Milk

Milk

(g/

head

/day

)

0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

Energy requirem

ents (F

UM

P/head/day)Milk

FUMP

Department of Animal Production

Pluripaorus: Early lactation and first 2 months of lactation

Primipaorus: Last phases of pregnancy:

- pasture availability Nutritive lack

- no in hay and silage use Rapid decline in milk yield

- no in concentrate use Decline in BCS

Ott Nov Dic Gen Feb Mar Apr Mag Giu Lug Ago SetMonth

MilkGrass

Department of Animal Production

Improve grazing management and hay and silage use

Possible solutions: - grazing time

- hay and silage use

- concentrate use

Example of diet: 2.0-3.0 kg of silage

0.5-1.0 kg of hay

0.4-0.8 kg of concentrate

Concentrate containing > 16% of CP

Department of Animal Production

End of lactation - SPRING:

- pasture availability

- pasture nutritive value Flushing is not necessary

- concentrates utilisation

Mating of pluripaorus ewes

Ott Nov Dic Gen Feb Mar Apr Mag Giu Lug Ago SetMonth

MilkGrass

Department of Animal Production

SUMMER and FALL:

- pasture availability Flushing for primiparous ewes

- pasture nutritive value Possible metabolic disorders

- concentrates utilisation Impairment of nutritional status

Mating of primipaorus ewesLast phase of pregnancy of pluriparous ewes

Ott Nov Dic Gen Feb Mar Apr Mag Giu Lug Ago Set

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Gra

ss h

eigh

t (cm

)

Month

Grass

Department of Animal Production

Improve hay, silage and concentrate use

Possible solution: - utilisation of best hay

- utilisation of silage

- concentrate (Flashing)

Example of diet: 1.0-2.0 kg of silage

0.5-0.8 kg of hay

0.3-0.6 kg of concentrate

Concentrate containing > 13-14% of CP

Department of Animal Production

Some considerations

Improve grazing management;

Improve hay and silage use;When we feed silage (mais in particular) have to consider:

Silage = protein --- Pasture = protein

To formulate concentrates in relation with forage availability and characteristics (pasture in particular)

Low availability: 25% CP

High availability: 18% CP

NSC (Grain)

Department of Animal Production

Anyway, about forage it has to be considered possible environmental

impact:

Department of Animal Production

Major environmental impacts Major environmental impacts of semi-extensive dairy sheep farming systemof semi-extensive dairy sheep farming system

Grazing management

Grazing management

Grazing TechniquesGrazing Techniques

High stocking rateHigh stocking rate

High grazing pressure High grazing pressure

Continuous grazingContinuous grazing

Long grazing timeLong grazing time

Carrying capacityCarrying capacity

Annual cultivated forages (monoculture)

Annual cultivated forages (monoculture)

Influence on soil fertility and stability

Influence on soil fertility and stability

Influence on biodiversity

Influence on biodiversity

Foraging strategy

Foraging strategy

Grazing areas degradationGrazing areas degradationDepartment of Animal Production

Some considerations

To formulate particular concentrates in relation with the physiological phase (last

phase of pregnancy in particular)

Example of special concentrate

to prevent pregnancy toxaemia

Department of Animal Production

Animals, housing and feeding

40 healthy and dry Comisana ewes were used. The parity ranged from 2 to 5. Animals were split in two homogeneous groups of 20 by body score, parity and genetic capability for milk production.

The trial was performed under semi-extensive conditions.

The ewes were fed the same diet during the first 100 days of pregnancy:- hay: ad libitum basis;- pasture: 7 hours a day;- barley: 100 g head-1 d-1;- commercial mixed feed (CMF): 200 g head-1 d-1.

( 1 )

Department of Animal Production

Treatment

Fifty days before lambing to one of the two groups (T-group) 200 g head-1 d-1 of special CMF containing:

- 5% of Na-propionate- 3.5% of Ca-salts of LCFAs- 3% of sorbitol- 208 mg/kg of niacin,

was given in substitution of 200 g head-1 d-1 of traditional CMF.

The other 20 ewes (C-group) were not treated.

After lambing all ewes were fed the same diet.

( 2 )

Department of Animal Production

Body condition score (BCS)

1.7

1.8

1.9

2.0

2.1

2.2

2.3

-50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

C-group T-group

Days from lambingDepartment of Animal Production

Plasma -OH butyrate (BOHB) and Non-Esterified Fatty Acids (NEFA)

(mmol/l)

0.20.30.40.50.60.70.80.91.01.11.2

-50 -45 -40 -35 -30 -25 -20 -15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15

C-BOHB T-BOHB C-NEFA T-NEFA

Days from lambingDepartment of Animal Production

Least-square means of plasma metabolites in the last 28 days of pregnancy in ewes fed (T-group) or not (C-group) a

special concentrate.

N. of lambs born/ewe 1 2Group C T C TN. of animals (7) (6) (13) (14)

Glucose (mmol/l) 2.41B 2.30B 1.97A 2.17B

-OH butyrate (mmol/l) 0.657A 0.514A 1.190B

0.682A

NEFA (mmol/l) 0.522A 0.397A 0.662B 0.555A

Ca (mmol/l) 2.46B 2.61B 2.39A

2.55B

Zn (mol/l) 15.21a 16.65b 15.89a 16.54b

Albumin (g/l) 32.8A 35.4B 33.6A

34.1AB

Bilirubine (mol/l) 4.13B 3.28A 4.45B

3.42A

a, b = P<0.05; A, B = P<0.01

Department of Animal Production

Least-square means of live weight at birth (LW0), live weight at 30 days of age (LW30) and average daily gain (ADG) of ewes’ offspring in ewes fed (T-group) or not (C-group) a

special concentrate.N. of lambs born/ewe 1 2Group C T C TN. of animals (7) (6) (13) (14)

LW0 (kg) 4.68B 4.92B 4.12A

4.18A

LW30 (kg) 13.57B 13.67B 12.59Aa 13.00Ab

ADG (kg) 0.296ab 0.291ab 0.282a 0.294b

a, b = P<0.05; A, B = P<0.01

Sex ratio was not different between groups.No differences were observed for LW0 between groups.The lower ADG was in C-groupTreatment allowed to maintain normal lamb ADG