Nutritional evaluation of kale (Brassica oleracea) diets:1. Growth of grazing lambs as affected by time after introduction to the crop, feed allowance and intraperitoneal amino acid supplementation

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Abstract
SUMMARY: Three successive sowings of marrow-stemmed kale (cv. Maris Kestrel) were grazed with lambs (initial weight 22·5 kg) for two consecutive 6-week periods, so that crop yield at the time of grazing was kept relatively constant at 6·5 t D.M./ha. Three crop allowances, 3·9 (H), 2·6 (M) and 1·3 (L) kg D.M./animal/day were imposed in a replicated design. Halfof the 32 lambs grazing each allowance received intraperitoneal injections of L-methionine + L-threonine three times per week. Twelve lambs were slaughtered at the start of the experiment and 48 at the end of each period.Leaf tissue, the diet of the H groups, contained 0·5% D.M. as S-methylcysteine sulphoxide (SMCO) and 0·7–1·5% total N as nitrate. Whole plants, the diet of the L groups, contained 0·75% D.M. as SMCO and 4·0–7·5% total N asnitrate. The diet of the M groups was intermediate.Rates of live-weight gain (LWG), empty-body weight gain (EBWG) and carcassweight gain (CWG) were lower in period 1 than in period 2 for animals grazing at all three allowances. A Heinz-Ehrlich body anaemia developed that was more severe in the first period, but did not differ between groups receiving the different allowances. Methaemoglobin was only detected in significant quantities at the time of peak Heinz body formation in period 1. CWG/EBWG was increased by the amino acid supplementation during period 1 but not period 2, showing that there was a temporary amino acid deficiency corresponding to the time when tho anaemia was most severe and body growth most depressed.In both periods animals grazing at L allowance had lower rates of LWG, EBWG and CWG than M and H animals, who performed similarly. Most of the differences in EBWG between feed allowance treatments and between periods could be explained by changes in estimated intake. Wool growth rates increased with increasing feed allowance and were slightly stimulated by amino acid supplementation.Copper true availability was calculated to be 1·6–2·7% with the lowest values for leaf tissue due to its high sulphur content. Truly available Cu/kg plant D.M. was below the minimum requirement for lamb growth, thus leading to a reduction in total liver Cu as the experiment progressed. Some indication was obtained that this could have been depressing LWG in the second period, especially in H lambs. Slight increases in thyroid gland weight were observed as the experiment progressed, but these were considered unlikely to have depressed body growth. It was concluded that the major factor limiting the feeding value of B. oleracea was its high content of nonprotein sulphur compounds, especially SMCO.
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