Dried sugar-beet pulp as a roughage substitute for pregnant ewes

Abstract

SummaryIn 1968-69 for a mean period of 101 days before lambing, 72 cross-bred ewes, and in 1969-70 for a mean period of 88 days, 107 ewes were given roughage daily in the form of (a) 0·91 kg field-cured hay (b) 0·45 kg of hay plus 0·23 kg dried sugar-beet pulp nuts, or (c) 0·45 kg of pulp nuts. Each diet was supplemented by a concentrate allowance. From the 6th week before lambing was due to start, this allowance was progressively and uniformly increased.There was no evidence that the dried sugar-beet pulp had adversely affected performance in terms of ewe body-weight change, lamb numbers, litter weight at birth or 4 weeks of age, fleece weight or general health. It is therefore concluded that dried sugar-beet pulp can be used safely as a replacement for hay in supplying up to 67% of the energy needed for maintenance by ewes.