A comparison of digestion was made between Japanese native Tokara buck kids (Tokara) and Suffolk ram lambs (Suffolk) fed alfalfa hay cube digestion trial, orchardgrass hay digestion trial and mixed feed trial consisting of 4 parts rice straw to 3 parts of wheat bran (rice straw. wheat bran digestion trial) for the purpose of ascertaining the digestible performance of each feed, respectively. In this experiment, the same four Tokara and the same four Suffolk lambs were used, respectively, aged five to seven months. The experimental feeds were adjusted to supply a no refusal, and also the amounts were the same per metabolic body size for each of the digestion trials. The results were as follows :
(1) The digestibility coefficients in percentages for all components of the experimental feeds were lower in the Tokara than in the Suffolk except for crude protein and nitrogen free extracts in the alfalfa hay cube digestion trial.
(2) Components showing significant differences were crude fiber, acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber in all digestion trials. In addition to this, components demonstrating significant differences were dry matter and gross energy in the alfalfa hay cube digestion trial, dry matter, crude fat and gross energy in the orchardgrass hay trial, and crude fat in the rice straw. wheat bran digestion trial, respectively.
(3) The nutritive values per dry matter were lower for total digestible nutrients and digestible energy in the Tokara than in the Suffolk in all of the digestion trials, but the orchardgrass hay digestion trial alone showed significant differences.
(4) Digestible crude protein per dry matter was similar for the Tokara and the Suffolk. They were not significant in any digestion trial.
(5) Nitrogen balance was similar for the Tokara and the Suffolk in all digestion trials.
(6) Relative to the Suffolk, it was concluded that the apparent digestibility of feed for the Tokara was low, especially of fibrous components.

View full abstract

To study effects of crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, dry bulk density, and brittleness of the hay on feed intake of sheep, sudangrass, bermudagrass, timothy, perennial ryegrass, oats, Italian ryegrass and alfalfa hays were given to sheep. Seven sheep were used for 7 x 7 Latin square design with a 21-day experimental period.
Dry-matter intake, digestibility of the hay, and eating and ruminating behavior were determined in the last 7 days of the experimental period. Crude protein and neutral deter gent fiber (NDF) contents of the hay were determined. The rigidity against grinding by planet ball mill (RBM) or cutting mixer (RCM) was determined as an index for brittleness of the hay tissue. Dry bulk density (g/ml) for each hay was determined by the sample ground through 8 mm screen and applying the pressure of 10 g/cm².
Dry-matter intake was higher in alfalfa hay and bermudagrass hay, and lower in Italian ryegrass hay. No significant difference was found in the digestibility of dry matter for each hay. The time spent for eating and ruminating did not differ significantly among hays, and averaged 320 min. for eating and 540 min. for rumination during 24 h observation, respectively. The following multiple regression equation was obtained for prediction of dry-matter intake (g/kg BW) with NDF content (%), RCM and DBD.
DMI = -17.0 - 0.37.NDF% - 20.8. RCM + 174. DBD
R² = 0.623, s. e. ± 4.0

View full abstract

To study changes in the behavioral pattern of lambs during suckling period and weaning period, behavioral observations for 2 flocks of ewe-twins pair were carried out at 3, 10, 20, 30, 32, 35, 40 and 60 days of age in the suckling period and 1 and 7 days after weaned at 90 days of age. Serum cortisol concentration was determined at 30 minutes before and after weaning. Results were as follows : 1) Relationships between the ewe and twins were more intimate at 3 and 10 days of age than those between twins. This relation was reversed after 20 days of age. 2) Changes of behavioral pattern of lambs suggested the possibility for weaning at 60 days of age. 3) Serum cortisol concentration tended to increase after weaning, which suggests that weaning may act as a possible stressor to lambs.

View full abstract

In order to determine genetic polymorphism of ovine caseins, we examined milk proteins of Corriedale and Suffolk breeds by polyacrylamide-gel isoelectric focusing. In the pH range of 5.0-5.3, two phenotypes of casein, AB and B, were identified. The former had A₁ A₂ and B₁ B₂ bands and the latter B₁ B₂ bands. These bands were found in the β-casein fraction extracted from ovine whole casein by urea. Treatment with bovine plasmin resulted in replacement of these bands by many new bands. The changes were similar to these seen for bovine β-casein by the same treatment. These ovine fractions showed the same mobility as bovine β-casein in starch-urea-gel electrophoresis, and were considered to correspond to β-casein. In the Corriedale sheep population in the Koiwai farm, the frequencies of the AB and B types were 13% and 87%, respectively. These observed values were equal to the expected ones, which were calculated according to HARDY-WEINBERG'S law under the condition of genetic control of two codominant alleles, β-Cn^A and β-Cn^B. The allele frequency of β-Cn^A was 0.0479 for Corriedale sheep and none for Suffolk sheep.

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

This experiment was carried out to examined the effect of supplement of sugar and salt on the feed intake in sheep, goats and cows ; i. e., sugar and salt were supplemented at levels of 0, 2, 5 and 10 % into grass hay. In case of feeding with supplement of sugar, the dry matter intake increased according to additional amounts of these supplements in three ruminant animals. In the experiment of 0, 10 and 20 % supplements of sugar in sheep, however, 20% supplement rather decreased the dry matter intake rather decreased. It was considered that the ability of discrimination and adaptation of sweetness was superior in cows than in sheep and goats. In case of feeding with supplement of salt, the dry matter intake was hardly effected in three ruminant animals.
It is suggested that ruminant animal has the sense of taste toward sweetness, and the supplementation of about 10 % sugar into grass hay improves the palatability of feed and increases the feed intake.

View full abstract