Small ruminant nutrition

Question 1

Roughly how much DMI can an animal eat

Answer 1

2.5% body weight

Question 2

What nutrients pass undigested from rumen

Answer 2

Fats
By-pass protein
By-pass starch

Question 3

Rough maintenance energy for 650kg cow

Answer 3

70mJ/day then add on 5mJ/l if lactating

Question 4

Rough maintenance energy for 70kg ewe

Answer 4

10mJ/day

Question 5

What makes up fermentable metabolisable energy

Answer 5

= energy available to ruminal microbes

= metabolisable energy - fats - VFAs (absorbed directly)

This leaves carbohydrates

Question 6

What happens to pre-formed VFAs in silage when eaten

Answer 6

Absorbed immediately through rumen wall

Question 7

How to work out crude protein from nitrogen

Answer 7

=measured nitrogen x 6.25

Question 8

How does increased productino level alter protein metabolism and ratio of slowly degradable protein to digestible undegraded protein

Answer 8

Higher production means greater nutrient needs and faster outflow from the rumen
So less time for degradation
- Get fall in SDP and rise in DUP

Question 9

WHat makes up effective rumen degradable protein

Answer 9

Quick and slowly degradable protein
NB: depends on production level/rumen outflow

Question 10

How do microbes make protein and how much

Answer 10

From ERDP = effective ruminal degradable protein
Can make 8-12g microbial crude protein from each MJ energy
–> Of this 64% can be absorbed

Question 11

Metabolisable protein calculation

Answer 11

(MCPx0.64) + DUP

= microbial crude protein + digestible undegraded protein (digested in SI)

Question 12

What does microbial crude protein production depend on

Answer 12

ERDP supply
FME; energy is needed by microbes (can supplement with sugar beet if deficient)
+ production level alters rumen efficiency

Question 13

When assessing diet need to check that which two things are sufficient

Answer 13

Protein
Energy

Question 14

What is acid detergent fibre

Answer 14

cellulose and lignin
(neutral detergent fibre also includes hemicellulose)

Question 15

Maintenance levels of water (non-lactating) per kg/day

Answer 15

= 50ml/kg/day

Question 16

Highest risk period in cows for diet; when to check metabolic profile

Answer 16

Early lactation

Question 17

Highest risk period in sheep to check metabolic profile

Answer 17

2-3 weeks before lambing

Question 18

What energy metabolites do we measure from blood

Answer 18

BHB = ketone body; suggests negative energy balance
NEFA = gives info on fat mobilisation; is high when energy deficienct

Glucose

Question 19

What can urea in blood tell us about protein intake

Answer 19

Reflects balance of RDP: FME (I assume too much protein compared to energy)

Question 20

When do we want sheep body condition highest

Answer 20

At tupping
Lowest will be at weaning

Question 21

What does flushing mean

Answer 21

Increasing plane of nutrition 3-4 weeks before mating; will increase ovulation rates

Question 22

When is nutrition most critical in sheep production cycle

Answer 22

Late gestation
- Issues with over and under feeding

Question 23

Highest nutritional requirement period in sheep

Answer 23

Lactation
ESPECIALLY PROTEIN

Question 24

What should we remember to do when feeding late gestation ewe

Answer 24

May need to give concentrates because smaller DMI as rumen squashed
BUT should spread rapidly fermentable energy through a mixed ration to avoid ruminal acidosis

Question 25

How much colostrum should sheep get within 6 hours of birth

Answer 25

50ml/kg
Most are 4-6kg

Question 26

When does lamb rumen begin to develop

Answer 26

4-6 weekd old

Question 27

When can we see hypomagnesia being an issue

Answer 27

Pastured animals in spring
See tetanic seizures

Question 28

What does swayback mean

Answer 28

Deficiency in copper in utero

Question 29

What is stiff lamb syndrome from

Answer 29

Deficiency in vit E/selenium