Part II: Use of Focused Nutritional Inputs to Enhance Reproductive Response of Sheep

J. Wamatu

Sheep Nutrition for Reproduction

EIAR-DBARC-ICARDA-ILRI (LIVES)-FAO Training on Reproduction in Sheep and Goat, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia, 13-15 October 2014

Jane Wamatu

Introduction

The important principles for the breeding ewe center on the relationship between the utilization of energy and protein in the diet

Metabolizable Energy (ME)

ME is a measure of the energy contained in feeds rather than the production the feeds can support in the animal. ME is the gross energy of feed minus the losses of energy in faeces, urine and methane

Protein

The main factor influencing the level of microbial protein synthesis is the amount of energy available in the rumen

Protein degradation, digestion and utilization

Proteins in feeds are broken down to ammonia by the microorganisms in the rumen.

Microorganisms utilize the ammonia for growth. Energy is required for this process.

When the micro-organisms in the rumen die they provide protein in form of microbial protein

Microbial protein passes into the abomasum and intestines where it is digested. 80% of the microbial protein arriving the intestines is in form of

Protein degradation, digestion and utilization

The extent to which a protein is degraded in the rumen varies with the protein source and the length of time it stays in the rumen.

The protein that is degraded is refereed to as rumen degradable protein (RDP)

The protein that passes from the rumen undegraded is known as undegradable dietary protein (UDP)

At least 80% of the protein in most basal feeds e.g roughages (hays, straws) and cereal grains is readily degraded to ammonia by rumen microorganisms

Protein supplements are less degraded e.g fishmeal is poorly degradable, then heat-treated soyabean and groundnut is an example of highly degradable of the supplements. URP have an chance to be digested in the intestines into amino acids.

Degradability of main feeds

Type Feed DM (%)

ME (MJ/kg)

CP (%)

Degradability (%)

Grains Oats Barley Maize Wheat

86 86 86 86

12.6 13.0 13.5 13.9

10.5 12.0 9.8 12.5

85-95 85-95 60-70 70-80

High protein supplements

Soya bean Fish meal

90 90

12.3 11.1

50.3 70.1

45-65 25-45

Hay Leafy grass Barley straw

85 86

10.1 7.3

13.2 3.8

70-80 80

Molasses 75 12.8 44.0 100

Please refer to hand–outs given for energy and protein amounts for

different ewe live weights, maintenance and for changing body

condition scores:

Figure 1:

Daily energy and protein allowances for ewes before mating

Figure 2:

Daily energy and protein allowances in early and mid-pregnancy

Figure 3:

Daily energy and protein allowances in late pregnancy for single lambs

Figure 4:

Daily energy and protein allowances in late pregnancy for twins

Figure 5:

Daily energy and protein allowances for lactating ewes

Nutritional disorders

Hypomagnesaemia First 4-6 weeks of lactation at the

peak of milk production Hypocalcaemia Lambing sickness Uncoordinated movements Muscular dystrophy White muscle disease Deficiency in Vitamin E/seleniun Stiffness in young, rapidly growing

lambs around 3-4 weeks.