Ryegrass pasture supplementation strategies for lactating ewe performance

Abstract

Optimal ewe health and well-being favors good reproductive performance and, as a consequence, assures good growth of theoffspring. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate three production systems using commercial concentrate supplementation on Italianryegrass pasture ( Lolium multiflorum ) on the metabolic profile and body condition score (BCS) of ewes, from those recently postpartumto 75 days in lactation. The total lamb production per ewe was also evaluated. Eighteen adult twin-bearing ewes, Texel × Ile de Francecrossbreeds, and their offspring were divided into three groups: without supplementation control (CON); supplemented ewes andlambs at 1% of body weight (SEL); and creep-feeding supplemented lambs at 1% of body weight (CSL). The glucose concentration washigher for the SEL group (P < 0.05) and the SEL group showed less BCS variation from the first to the last evaluation, which suggestsbetter nutritional adjustment in that system. The SEL and CSL groups showed the highest total lamb production per ewe, differing fromCON (P < 0.05). These results suggest that the supplementation of ewes and lambs on ryegrass pasture allows the highest performanceof both categories compared to exclusive supplementation of lambs and the animals exclusively on pasture.