Analysis of rotational grazing management for sheep in mixed grassland

TL;DR

This study shows that rotational grazing on sown mixed grasslands improves sheep fattening, feed efficiency, and meat quality.

Contribution

The study introduces an efficient sheep fattening system using rotational grazing on sown mixed grasslands in agro-pastoral areas.

Findings

The highest dry matter intake was 1.80 kg DM/ewe/d with an average daily weight gain of 193.3 g.

The feed weight gain ratio reached 8.02, indicating high feed conversion efficiency.

The n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratio in mutton was 2.84, suggesting improved meat quality.

Abstract

Sown mixed grassland is rarely used for livestock raising and grazing; however, different forages can provide various nutrients for livestock, which may be beneficial to animal health and welfare. We established a sown mixed grassland and adopted a rotational grazing system, monitored the changes in aboveground biomass and sheep weights during the summer grazing period, measured the nutrients of forage by near-infrared spectroscopy, tested the contents of medium- and long-chain fatty acids by gas chromatography, and explored an efficient sheep fattening system that is suitable for agro-pastoral interlacing areas. The results showed that the maximum forage supply in a single grazing paddock was 4.6 kg DM/d, the highest dry matter intake (DMI) was 1.80 kg DM/ewe/d, the average daily weight gain (ADG) was 193.3 g, the DMI and ADG were significantly correlated (P < 0.05), and the average feed weight gain ratio (F/G) reached 8.02. The average crude protein and metabolizable energy intake by sheep were 286 g/ewe/d and 18.5 MJ/ewe/d respectively, and the n-6/n-3 ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acids in mutton was 2.84. The results indicated that the sheep fattening system had high feed conversion efficiency, could improve the yield and quality of sheep, and could be promoted in suitable regions.

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