Abstract
The work involves two main areas, namely advances · the feeding value of forages for
ruminant animals and advances in the nutrition of alternative herbivore livestock, mainly red
(temperate) deer, sambar (tropical) deer and goats. It is shown that absorption of amino
acids limits protein deposition (N retention) in sheep fed fresh perennial ryegrass/white
clover pasture ad libitum and that absorption of sulphur-containing amino acids (SAA) limits
wool growth (a form of protein deposition) in sheep fed pasture conserved as hay or silage.
Correlation analyses were used to show that extensive nitrogen (N) degradation in the silage
fermentation process reduced N retention, wool growth, and voluntary feed intake (VFI) in
sheep fed sole diets of silage.
Methods were developed for reducing forage protein degradation by anaerobic microorganisms,
initially using additions of the chemical formaldehyde to forages conserved as hay
and silage and secondly by using fresh forages containing condensed tannins. Formaldehyde
treatment dramatically reduced protein degradation in the silage fermentation process and
when applied at an appropriate rate increased N retention, VFI and body growth in sheep.
Formaldehyde treatment also increased wool growth in sheep fed hay or silage, but the
responses were shown to be limited by forage SAA content, and increased body growth at
constant feed intake.
Date
1996
Rights
The Author
Publisher
Massey University
Description
This Doctor of Science comprises a number of published works, listed in the file attached. As such due to copyright restriction they are not included here but can be accessed individually from the publisher.