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Acta Prataculturae Sinica ›› 2012, Vol. 21 ›› Issue (2): 187-195.

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Metabolic energy balance and countermeasures study in the north grassland of China

YANG Bo1, WU Jian-ping1, YANG Lian1, KEMP David4,5, GONG Xu-yin1,3, TAKAHASHI Taro4, FENG Ming-ting2   

  1. 1.College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China;
    2.Animal husbandry Bureau of Sunan County, Sunan 734502, China;
    3.Gansu Provincial Agricultural Academy, Lanzhou 730070, China;
    4.Charles Sturt University, NSW 2800, Australian;
    5.Orange Agricultural Research Institute, NSW 2800, Australian
  • Received:2011-09-06 Online:2012-02-25 Published:2012-04-20

Abstract: Feed balance is the prerequisite of the sustainability of grassland animal husbandry. The techniques of monitoring and evaluation of feed balance is the base of achieving sustainability on this matter. The paper is to discus the techniques used in the study to evaluate and to monitory the feed balance, of which the metabolic energy(ME) of sheep requirement and of grassland supervision in a year around were used as the benchmark to understand the feed balance status of the typical farm in Sunan County of Gansu province, in addition, supplementation strategy was worked out in according with the feed balance status of the typical farms of the pilot farm in this study. The results showed ME provision from grassland was higher than animal maintenance requirement in warm season from June to October, consequently, the body weight of sheep increased significantly. The ME provision was in deficit in cold season from November to May, as the results, the body weight losses was significant during this period of time. The stocking rate was the highest in summer pasture among 3 pasture types which were summer pasture, winter pasture and spring and autumn pasture. The results also showed the ME requirement of sheep fed in warm shed in winter was lower than those in conventional yard which should be an alternative in relieving ME deficit in winter and benefit in feed balance too. Experiment was designed to test the ewes were fed in warm shed in winter, the results showed the wool yield of experimental sheep was 0.73 kg/head higher than those of controls, the body weight loss decreased 14.9%, and pure income increased 126.25 Yuan/head respectively. The study also demonstrated that the lambing time had large effect on feed balance. Under the range of the production practice, the delaying lambing time can improve feed balance. The research measured lambs growth performance and the body condition of ewe which lambed in April and May. Result showed the birth weight of the lamb born in May and June were significantly higher than those born in April although the body weight of the lamb born in May was 4-5 kg lower than April lambs because of short growing time. However, the pen feed practice may be applied to achieve heavier body weight at the selling time of September. By conclusion, ME as the benchmark is a precise way in monitoring and evaluation of the feed balance status of the pasture animal husbandry, which at the end will ensure the process of achieving sustainability for pasture based animal husbandry in China. In addition, better understanding of the feed balance status will also help technicians and farmers to alter the production practice so that supplementation strategies and management practice can be applied accordingly.

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