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AG0590
ISSN 1329-8062
Sheep (Merino)
Weaned lambs
gaining 100 g/day
gaining 200 g/day
Mature sheep
Dry ewes, wethers (store)
1.4
1.8
40 kg
0.9
50 kg
1.1
1.2
1.4
1.5
1.7
1.4
1.6
1.8
2.0
2.4
3.1
2.8
3.3
200 kg
5.5
250 kg
6.5
8.0
9.0
300 kg
7
350 kg
8
10
11
400 kg
7
500 kg
8
Yearling
Mature cattle
Dry cows, steers (store)
gaining 0.25 kg/day
25 kg
1.2
gaining 50 g/day
Bullocks (store)
15 kg
0.9
DSE at specified
liveweights
12
14
11
14
18
18
22
22
25
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DSE at specified
liveweights
AG0590
Dairy cattle
Weaned calves
gaining 500 g/day
200 kg
7.0
250 kg
8.0
Heifer
Pregnant, last 3 months
350 kg
9.0
450 kg
10.5
Mature cows
Jersey
400 kg
7
Holstein
550 kg
9
12
13
16
16
20
19
24
22
28
Jersey
560 kg
10
Holstein
770 kg
14
Bulls
maintaining weight
Flock status
Time
mths
Average DSEs
Total
DSEs1
Notice how the DSEs in tables 1 and 2 vary with the size
of the animals, whether or not they are pregnant or
lactating, and the rate at which they gain weight.
DSE values for fibre goats (angora and cashmere) may be
assumed to be similar to those of sheep of equivalent
liveweight and physiological state. The feed requirements
of lactating dairy goats are likely to be greater than those
of lactating merino sheep due to their greater milk
production.
These comparative figures are of use when contemplating
stock transfers on a farm. For example, a paddock
supporting 200 Merino wethers (1.0 DSE each) would be
expected to support only about 140 weaned lambs gaining
100 g/day, or less than 85 ewes suckling single lambs.
They may also account for the incidence of pregnancy
toxaemia in ewes and cows in late pregnancy, if their extra
feed requirements have not been adequately catered for.
The other major use of these figures is in determining the
amount of feed required by a flock or herd over the whole
year, or at critical times of the year. Such calculations
allow comparisons to be made of the requirements of
alternative livestock enterprises.
Dry ewes
0.9
0.23
Pregnant first 3
months
0.24
Pregnant last 2
months
0.22
Lactating
0.67
Weaned lambs2
12
0.70
2.06
Crossbreds (60kg)
Dry ewes
1.2
0.30
Pregnant first 3
months
0.33
Pregnant last 2
months
0.29
Lactating
1.15
Weaned lambs3
0.06
2.13
Total DSEs =
12
100
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AG0590
Carrying Capacity
The carrying capacity of a farm is commonly determined
by expressing the number of stock carried during a period
of feed shortage in terms of their DSEs.
For example, if we consider a 500 hectare property
carrying just over 2000 Merino sheep and 100 breeding
beef cows during a period of winter feed shortage. Half
Table 4 Calculation of carrying capacity for a mixed
sheep and beef farm.
Number
Stock
DSE
rating
1000
Lactating ewes
2400
1000
Dry sheep
Rams
1.0
1000
1.2
30
100
Lactating cows
17.0
1700
30
Yearling heifers
8.0
240
20
Yearling steers
8.5
170
Dry cows
8.0
40
Bulls
10.0
30
5610
25
Total
2.4
Total
DSEs
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Concluding remarks
It must again be emphasised that livestock equivalent
systems including the DSE are only approximate estimates
of the feed requirements of grazing animals.
Feed requirements are effected by environmental
conditions, such as temperature, rainfall and windspeed,
whether the land is flat, undulating or hilly, the quantity
and quality of pasture and other feed available, and the
proximity of drinking water.
Clearly also the level of production, physiological state,
age, gender and liveweight of animals have a major
influence on the feed requirements of grazing animals.
Further Reading
Freer, M. (1981) The Control of Food Intake by Grazing
Animals. Chapter 6 in Grazing Animals edited by F.H.W.
Morley. Amsterdam: Elsevier.
Purser, D.B. (1981) Nutritional Value of Mediterranean
Pastures. Chapter 9 in Grazing Animals edited by F.H.W.
Morley. Amsterdam: Elsevier.
Standing Committee on Agriculture: Ruminants
Subcommittee. (1990) Feeding Standards for Australian
Livestock. Ruminants. Melbourne: CSIRO.
This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria
and its officers do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw
of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes
and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other
consequence which may arise from you relying on any information
in this publication.
AG0590
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