The voluntary feed intake of three breeds of sheep on Natural pasture

Abstract

Drie skaaprasse naamlik die Merino, S.A.-Vleismerino en Dorper is vergelyk wat voeriname vanaf nartuurlike weiding betref gedurende vetskillende maande van die jaar. Die selektiewe weigewoontes van die Merino en die Dorper is ook ondersoek. Dit is gevind dat die Merino per metabolise grootte, met die uitsondering van een maand, konstant meer gevreet het as dic Dorper alhoewel die venkille nie altyd statisties betekenisvol was nie. Die inmates van die Merino en die van die S.A.-Vleismerino het slegs gedurende een maand betekenisvol verskil. Die verskillc in chemiese samestelling en in vitro verteebarheid van plantmateriaal wat deur die Merino en die Dorper geselekeer is was nie betekenisvol nie.

Summary
A comparative study on voluntary feed intake during different months of the year under natural grazing conditions, was conducted with three sheep breeds namely, the Merino, S. Afr. Mutton Merino and Dorper. The selective grazing behaviour of thc Merino and Dorper was aho investigated. lt was found that the feed intake per metabolic size of thc Merino was with thc exception of one month consistently higher than that of the Dorper although the dfiferences were not always statistically significant. The feed intake of the merino and S. Afr. Mutton Merino differed significantly during one month only. Thc differences in chemical composition and in vitro digestibitty of plant materal selected by the Merino and the Dorper, were not significant.