Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t8hqh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-20T11:26:44.369Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Growth responses in red deer calves and hinds grazing red clover, chicory or perennial ryegrass/white clover swards during lactation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

J. H. Niezen ,
T. N. Barry ,
J. Hodgson ,
P. R. Wilson ,
A. M. Ataja ,
W. J. Parker  and
C. W. Holmes
J. H. Niezen
Affiliation:
Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
T. N. Barry
Affiliation:
Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
J. Hodgson
Affiliation:
Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
P. R. Wilson
Affiliation:
Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
A. M. Ataja
Affiliation:
Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
W. J. Parker
Affiliation:
Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
C. W. Holmes
Affiliation:
Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Two experiments were conducted at the Massey University Deer Unit, New Zealand in 1990 and 1991 to evaluate the performance of lactating red deer hinds and their calves grazing conventional perennial ryegrass-based pastures, red clover or chicory. In both experiments, hind and calf performance was evaluated from 1 month post-parturition over a 2½ month summer period to weaning at 3½ months of age.

In Expt 1, hinds and calves were grazed on low (5·4 kg dry matter (DM)/hd/day), medium (10·8) or high (16·4) allowances of red clover, or on a medium allowance of a conventional ryegrass/white clover sward (9·9 DM/hd/day). In Expt 2, hinds and calves grazed equal DM allowances (12 kg DM/hd/day) of perennial ryegrass/white clover, chicory or red clover.

Red clover generally had higher organic matter digestibility (OMD) and higher total N than ryegrass/white clover, and when grazed at equal DM allowances, promoted higher voluntary food intake in the hinds, increased calf growth (430 v. 330 g/day) and increased hind liveweight change. Although decreasing the red clover allowance in Expt 1 slightly but non-significantly decreased hind voluntary food intake and decreased both calf and hind liveweight change, all low red clover values were still consistently higher than all ryegrass/white clover values (P < 0·05). In Expt 2, chicory was of higher OMD and ash content than red clover but N content was lower and similar to ryegrass/white clover. Chicory promoted lower levels of calf liveweight change than red clover but higher than ryegrass/white clover. Hind liveweight change on chicory was lower than on red clover and was similar to ryegrass/white clover. It was concluded that red clover offers potential as a special purpose forage for deer production and that further experimental work is needed with chicory.

Type
Animals
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 121 , Issue 2 , October 1993 , pp. 255 - 263
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Adam, C. L. & Moir, C. E. (1987). A note on the effect of birth date on the performance of suckled red deer calves and their dams on low-ground pasture. Animal Production 44, 330–332.Google Scholar
Adam, J. L. (1988). Pasture for deer production. In Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association (Ed. Burgess, R. E.), pp. 37–40. Palmerston North: New Zealand Grassland Association.Google Scholar
Burgess, S. M. (1988). The Climate and Weather of Manawatu and Horowhenua Wellington, New Zealand: New Zealand Meteorological Service.Google Scholar
Clark, D. A., Anderson, C. B. & Hongwen, G. (1990). Liveweight gain and intake of Friesian bulls grazing ‘Grasslands Puna’ chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) or pasture. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 33, 219–224.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Domingue, B. M. F., Dellow, D. W., Wilson, P. R. & Barry, T. N. (1991). Comparative digestion in deer, goats and sheep. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 34, 45–53.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fennessy, P. F., Moore, G. H. & Corson, I. D. (1981). Energy requirements of red deer. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 41, 167–173.Google Scholar
Hodgson, J. (1975). The consumption of perennial ryegrass and red clover by grazing lambs. Journal of the British Grassland Society 30, 307–313.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hudson, R. J. & Adamczewski, J. Z. (1990). Effect of supplementing summer ranges on lactation and growth of wapiti (Cervus elaphus). Canadian Journal of Animal Science 70, 551–560.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hunt, J. F. & Hay, R. J. M. (1989). Alternative pasture species for deer production in Waikato. In Ruakura Deer Industry Conference, Proceedings of the Conference held at Ruakura Agricultural Centre (Eds Asher, G. & Squire, J.), pp. 31–33. Hamilton: Ruakura Agricultural Centre.Google Scholar
Kelly, R. W. & Shackell, G. H. (1982). Ovulation and oestrous responses of high and low fecundity ewes to ingestion of isoflavone-rich pasture. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 42, 29–31.Google Scholar
Lancashire, J. A. & Brock, J. L. (1983). Management of new cultivars for dryland. Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association 44, 61–73.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Loudon, A. S. I., Darroch, A. D. & Milne, J. A. (1984). The lactation performance of red deer on hill and improved pasture species. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 102, 149–158.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mangan, J. L. (1959). Bloat in cattle. XI. The foaming properties of proteins, saponins, and rumen liquor. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 2, 47–61.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mitchell, R. J., Hodgson, J. & Clark, D. A. (1991). The effect of varying leafy sward height and bulk density on the ingestive behaviour of young deer and sheep. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 51, 159–165.Google Scholar
Niezen, J. H., Barry, T. N., Wilson, P. R. & Lane, G. (1992). Red urine from red deer grazed on pure red clover swards. New Zealand Veterinary Journal 40, 164–167.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Parker, W. J., McCutcheon, S. N. & Carr, D. H. (1989). Effect of herbage type and level of intake on the release of chromic oxide from intraruminal controlled release capsules in sheep. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 32, 537–546.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Poppi, D. P., Hughes, T. P. & L'Huillier, P. J. (1987). Intake of pasture by grazing ruminants. In Livestock Feeding on Pasture (Ed. Nicol, A. M.), pp. 55–64. Occasional Publication No. 10. New Zealand Society of Animal Production. Ruakura Research Centre, Hamilton, NZ.Google Scholar
Rogers, G. L., Bryant, A. M. & McLeay, L. M. (1979). Silage and dairy cow production. III. Abomasal infusions of casein, methionine, and glucose, and milk yield and composition. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 22, 533–541.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rogers, G. L., Porter, R. H. D., Clarke, T. & Stewart, J. A. (1980). Effect of protected casein supplements on pasture intake, milk yield and composition of cows in early lactation. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 31, 1147–1152.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Roughan, P. G. & Holland, R. (1977). Predicting in-vivo digestibilities of herbages by exhaustive enzyme hydrolysis of cell walls. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 28, 1057–1064.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Semiadi, G., Barry, T. M., Wilson, P. R., Hodgson, J. & Purchas, R. W. (1992). Venison production from red deer grazing pure red clover and perennial ryegrass/white clover pastures. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 52, 81–83.Google Scholar
Statistics Institute (1985). Statistical Analysis System Users Guide, 5th Edn.Cary, NC: SAS Institute.Google Scholar
Terrill, T. H., Rowan, A. M., Douglas, G. B. & Barry, T. N. (1992). Determination of extractable and bound condensed tannin concentrations in forage plants, protein concentrate meals and cereal grains. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 58, 321–329.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ulyatt, M. J. (1981). The feeding value of temperate pastures. In Grazing Animals (Ed. Morley, F. H. W.), pp. 125–143. Amsterdam: Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company.Google Scholar
Ulyatt, M.J., Lancashire, J. A. & Jones, W. T. (1976). The nutritive value of legumes. Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association 38, 107–118.CrossRefGoogle Scholar