Research Progress Report 139
			   June, 1964
Haylage, Alfalfa Hay and Corn Silage in Gestation Rations for Ewes
J. B. Outhouse, ]. A. Osborn and T. W. Perry-Department of Animal Sciences
Summary
Three roughages were compared in the gestation ration of 103 commercial ewes of Rambouillet and Columbia breeding during the winter and spring of 1964. These roughages included alfalfa hay, low moisture legume silage (haylage) made with ground shelled corn as a preservative and corn silage. The alfalfa hay was supplemented with a grain mixture and the corn silage was supplemented with soybean meal to equalize the protein and energy content of the rations. Trace mineralized salt and bonemeal were fed free choice.
No significant differences were observed in the gain of the ewes, the birth weight of the lambs, the gain of the lambs to 30 days of age or the grease weight of the fleeces produced. The ewes receiving the haylage and the corn silage tended to lose more weight at lambing time than the ewes receiving alfalfa hay although this difference was not great. There was a significant difference in the number of lambs born per ewe but it is not known if this can be attributed to the effect of the ration, since all ewes were settled before they were placed on the gestation ration. There was also a noticeable difference in the pounds of lambs
produced per ewe at birth, but this was correlated with the number of twins produced. There was no significant difference in the survival of the lambs to 30 days of age following lambing.
This study indicates that haylage made with ground shelled corn as a preservative, is a satisfactory gestation ration for ewes. It also is an excellent lactation ration following lambing. When properly supplemented, alfalfa hay and corn silage produce good results also.
In the study with the Columbia ewes, the cost of the ration, when converted to a 100 day feeding period, showed the corn silage ration to be the most economical with the alfalfa hay ration the most expensive.
With the Rambouillet ewes, haylage proved to be the most economical while corn silage was the most expensive. When the data for the two breeds were averaged, the cost of the ration for 100 days was $4.06 for the haylage, $4.25 for the corn silage and $4.34 for the alfalfa hay.
Introduction
In most Indiana sheep flocks, the gestation period occurs during the winter
PURDUE UNIVERSITY • Agricultural Experiment Station • Lafayette, Indiana