Energy or TDN requirement

ENERGY OR TDN REQUIREMENT

  • An abundance of good roughage alone will supply sufficient TDN or NE for breeding ewes upto about a month or six weeks before lambing.
  • In pregnant ewes a small amount of grain or other concentrate can be fed for the growth and development of foetus.
  • During this period the capacity of the ewe to use roughage is considerably reduced because of the space in the abdomen that is occupied by the foetus and foetal membrane.
  • Milking ewes need a liberal supply of TDN therefore concentrate allowance should be given in addition to roughages.
  • For fattening lambs also, additional concentrate mixture should be given to satisfy their energy requirements.
  • The TDN requirement of lambs is higher than that of adult sheep similarly the pregnant, lactating and breeding ewes require more energy than non-pregnant and non lactating ewes.
  • As a thumb rule a non-pregnant, non-lactating ewe requires 10 gm TDN per kg live body weight for maintenance and wool production.
  • This requirement will be 50% more during last 6 weeks of pregnancy and 100% more during the first 10 weeks of lactation.
  • The energy deficiency may result in reproductive failure, poor growth and loss in body weight and may ultimately lead to death.

Factors affecting energy requirements

  • Size, age, growth, pregnancy, lactation and their realtionship to protein which must be supplied in adequate amounts.
  • Environment:- Temperature, Humidity and wind may increase or decrease energy needs, depending  upon relative values in relation to the zone of thermal neutrality.
  • Shearing decreases insulation and may increase energy losses.
  • Stress of any kind appears to increase energy requirements.

Nutrient requirement for Maintenance of adult sheep ( SK Ranjhan,1998)

Live weight
(kg)
Dry matter
(g)
Digestible Crude Protein
(g)
Total Digestible Nutrient
(g)
Calcium
(g)
Phosphorus
(g)
20
575
28
258
1.1
0.8
25
678
33
305
1.3
0.9
30
775
38
350
1.5
1.0
35
873
43
393
1.7
1.2
40
964
48
434
1.9
1.3
45
1055
53
475
2.3
1.5
50
1140
56
513
2.3
1.5
55
1225
60
551
2.4
1.6
60
1310
65
588
2.6
1.7

Last modified: Saturday, 31 March 2012, 7:32 AM