THE EFFECTS OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS OF OIL ON RUMINAL FERMENTATION LIVEWEIGHT GAIN AND WOOL GROWTH IN MERINO SHEEP

Summary Twelve sheep given a ration of 800g lucerne chaff were divided into groups of three and the following supplement added to their diet: nil; 50 ml linseed oil; 50 ml safflower oil; 50 ml cottonseed oil. The quantities of oil were increased to 100 ml after 9 weeks. The addition of oils had no effect on either the pattern of volatile fatty acid production in the rumen or on wool growth, but liveweight was significantly increased. The observed fermentation patterns were in contrast to published results of the effects of short term infusions of oils into the rumen of sheep. The study however, demonstrates clearly that extra energy in a particular diet has no effect on wool growth rate.