RESPONSES TO FEEDING CANOLA-MEAL OR LUPIN SEED TO PREGNANT, LACTATING, AND DRY EWES

Responses in wool production, ewe liveweight, lamb birth weight, and g rowth were compared when the major source of protein in the diet was e ither lupin seed or canola meal. The diets were fed to ewes during the final 3 weeks of pregnancy and first 3 weeks of lactation, and for a similar period of time to a group of dry ewes. All ewes were fed to ma intain conceptus-free liveweight. The diet containing canola meal incr eased (P < 0.001) wool growth in the reproducing ewes (50-63%) and the dry ewes (12.5-20%) during, and for 3 weeks after, the treatment peri od. Fibre diameter of wool grown during the treatment period was incre ased (P < 0.025) by 0.5-1.5 mu m in the ewes fed canola meal compared with ewes fed lupins. The ewes fed canola meal gained slightly (P = 0. 06) more weight during the experiment than the ewes fed lupins. Lambs from the ewes fed canola meal were lighter (P < 0.05) at birth (480 g) than lambs from ewes fed lupins. The reproducing ewes had lower fleec e weights, average fibre diameters, and staple strengths and lengths t han the dry ewes. These fleece characteristics were not significantly affected by diet. Canola meal is partially protected from rumen degrad ation and is less expensive than other sources of similar proteins and may therefore provide a practical option for commercial sheep produce rs.