Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances
ISSN: Online 1993-601XISSN: Print 1680-5593
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Abstract
In Alpine pasturelands animals switch from higher land for summer and autumn grazing to lower land for winter and spring grazing. A grazing experiment using nine Gansu Alpine Merinos was carried out in Alpine grassland on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau. Results for the quality of consumed herbage from the autumn pasture showed that the Digestible Energy (DE), Crude Protein (CP) content and CP:DE ratio were 9.15 MJ kg-1, 10.8 g/100 g and 11.8 g MJ-1, respectively and the CP level and the CP:DE ratio were optimal for nitrogen utilization. The dry matter intake changed significantly with seasons (p<0.05). For sheep grazing on winter pasture, the actual metabolizable energy intake was lower than maintenance requirements with a negative nitrogen balance (p<0.05), supplements should include both energy and protein feed. While grazing on spring pasture, sheep should be supplemented with energy feed expected to improve N utilization.
How to cite this article:
Xiao Jinyu, Zhang Changji, Lu Yuexiang, Wang Qin and An Yufeng. Energy and Nitrogen Provided by Native Herbage to Sheep Grazing in Alpine Grasslands of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36478/javaa.2012.919.923
URL: https://www.makhillpublications.co/view-article/1680-5593/javaa.2012.919.923