The intakes and growth rates of grazing border Leicester × Merino lambs weaned at 21, 49 and 77 days

Abstract

SUMMARYWeaning increased forage intake and depressed live weight; differences in intakes and growth rates of lambs born to South Australian and Fine wool Merinos were small. At 21 days, sucking lambs received less than 2% of their digestible organic matter from pasture and half the lambs weaned at this age died but the survivors consumed twice as much forage as unweaned sheep in the 14 days following weaning. At 49 days, unweaned lambs obtained approximately 41% of their digestible organic matter from pasture, and weaning resulted in less mortality and a proportionally smaller increase in forage consumption.