Liveweight gain and wool growth in sheep fed rations containing virginiamycin
Article
Article Title | Liveweight gain and wool growth in sheep fed rations containing virginiamycin |
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ERA Journal ID | 5178 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | Murray, P. J. (Author), Rowe, J. B. (Author), Aitchison, E. M. (Author) and Winslow, S. G. (Author) |
Journal Title | Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture |
Animal Production Science | |
Journal Citation | 32 (8), pp. 1037-1043 |
Number of Pages | 7 |
Year | 1992 |
Publisher | CSIRO Publishing |
Place of Publication | Australia |
ISSN | 0816-1089 |
1836-0939 | |
1836-5787 | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1071/EA9921037 |
Web Address (URL) | https://www.publish.csiro.au/an/EA9921037 |
Abstract | The feed additive virginiamycin was evaluated for its potential to improve wool growth and liveweight gain in Merino sheep in 2 experiments. In the first experiment 84 wethers (about 10 months old) were housed individually and fed ad libitum a pelleted diet based on lucerne chaff, lupin, and barley grain. Control sheep (28) were fed an unmedicated diet, and 14 in each of 4 groups were given diets containing 10, 20, 40, or 60 mg virginiamycin/kg pellets. Virginiamycin was found to reduce feed intake during the first 4-5 weeks of the experiment when included at levels 220 g/t. There was a dose-related reduction in liveweight gain. There was no significant effect of virginiamycin on wool growth. In the second experiment, weaners and adults from 2 locations in Western Australia, Mount Barker (relatively high rainfall) and Wongan Hills (relatively low rainfall and shorter pasture-growing period), were housed individually in a shed and fed a pelleted diet at rates equivalent to 3.5 and 3.1%, respectively, of liveweight for weaners and adults. The pelleted ration was based on wheat and lucerne chaff, lupin grain, and fishmeal. Virginiamycin was included at 20 mg/kg pellets for 16 of 40 sheep of each age and location. The remaining sheep were fed the unmedicated diet. Feed conversion and liveweight gain improved (P<0.05) in response to the inclusion of virginiamycin during the first 4 weeks of the trial, but wool growth was reduced over the same period. Virginiamycin had no effect on fibre diameter in sheep in either experiment. |
Keywords | wool growth; sheep |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 300301. Animal growth and development |
300303. Animal nutrition | |
Public Notes | Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions. |
Byline Affiliations | Department of Agriculture, Western Australia |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q63v2/liveweight-gain-and-wool-growth-in-sheep-fed-rations-containing-virginiamycin
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