Removal of sorghum stover from feed choices has no confounding effect on the quantity and quality of diets selected by group or individually fed sheep

The study determined the effect of reducing dietary ingredients and group feeding on diet selection, nutrient intake and digestibility in choice-fed sheep. Three feeds comprising of veld hay (VH), sorghum stover (SS) and maize stover (MS) were offered ad-libitum while lucerne hay (LH) and bean straw (BS) were offered at restriction. Twelve sheep were allocated into three groups (i) group-fed in 3 sheep per pen, (ii) individually fed and, (iii) individually fed with SS exclusion. Sheep were rotated across the groups in four periods of 10 days. Diet selected, intake, refusals, spillages and faeces were monitored for seven days. The proportion of BS and LH consumed did not differ between group-fed and individually fed sheep with or without SS inclusion. Intake of MS and SS was lower in individually fed sheep while intake of VH was higher (p < 0.05). The proportion of BS and MS selected among individually fed sheep was similar with or without SS inclusion (p > 0.05). Diet selection was influenced by group feeding, but not the removal of SS. The scarcity of one dietary component may not result in the selection of undesired but available feeds if the quality is similar or poorer to the absent feed.

Automated summary

In this study, the researchers investigated the effects of reducing dietary ingredients and group feeding on diet selection, nutrient intake, and digestibility in choice-fed sheep. The results showed that group feeding influenced diet selection, but the exclusion of sorghum stover did not affect the selection of feed.