EFFECTS OF FEEDING OF CHONDRUS CRISPUS (IRISH MOSS) DURING THE GRAZING SEASON ON THE CONDITION AND FERTILITY OF SHROPSHIRE EWES

Shropshire ewes grazing permanent pastures were dosed once weekly with Chondrus crispus (Irish Moss) from May to September or October during the years 1973 to 1977. The seaweed was fed at 250 g wet wt/wk/ewe by oesophageal tube. At these dose levels, C. crispus is not chronically toxic to grazing ewes. Both fertility and post-lactation weight gains of the C. crispus-dosed ewes on pasture were enhanced as compared to the control flock. By contrast, the performance of female lambs from the C. crispus-dosed ewes was indistinguishable from that of female lambs from the control flock.