Leena Watts
Dry matter intake (DMI) is an important factor in a sheep's diet as it helps determine the animal's nutritional requirements and overall health. DMI is the amount of feed a sheep consumes per day, excluding water or moisture. By calculating DMI, farmers can ensure they are providing their flock with the right amount of nutrients for their stage of life and level of production. This is particularly important for sheep, as their dietary needs can vary depending on factors such as the season, their wool thickness, and their production stage (whether they are growing, lactating, dry, etc.). For example, sheep require more nutrients in extreme weather conditions to maintain their body temperature, and older ewes may need additional nutrition as their ability to absorb nutrients decreases with age. Therefore, understanding and monitoring DMI is crucial for farmers to ensure the health and productivity of their sheep.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Dry matter | The amount of feed consumed per day on a moisture-free basis |
| Dry matter intake (DMI) | An important component for computing any feed efficiency trait |
| DMI factors | Feed ration, environment, and the animal itself (including size, body condition, stage of life, and level of production) |
| DMI calculation | Should be calculated at the beginning of the grazing season for each class and type of animal; additional calculations should be made whenever a change occurs |
| DMI prediction | Not an exact science; estimations do not account for the numerous physiological, environmental, and management factors that alter dry matter demand |
| DMI measurement | Can be performed by automated feeding systems such as Insentec feed bins |
| DMI and MP | A positive relationship exists between DMI and MP in ruminants; if DMI increases, MP also increases |
| Sheep diet | Should include at least 10% roughage to keep the rumen working effectively and to reduce the risk of acidosis |
| Lactating ewes | Require at least 15% roughage to ensure sufficient milk production |
| Supplementary feeding | Necessary when pastures or stubbles are deficient in energy and protein; helps maintain livestock productivity and avoid animal welfare and soil erosion problems |
| Cereal grains | Commonly used in sheep diets as they are high in energy and usually readily available; pose an acidosis risk due to their high starch content |
| Acidosis prevention | Introduce cereal-based diets gradually over 10 to 20 days to allow the rumen time to adapt |
| Dry period feeding | Feeding livestock during a dry period follows the same basic principles as feeding at any other time of the year |
| Weather impact | Extreme weather conditions increase the nutrition required for maintenance; wool plays a role in protecting sheep from heat and cold, affecting energy requirements |
| Grazing sheep | Require more energy than sheep in confinement; their requirements and diets can vary with changing forage quality and availability |
| Water | Fundamental for life, health, and production; fresh, clean, and reliable water sources must be available at all times |
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What You'll Learn
- Dry matter intake (DMI) is calculated by assessing feed ration, environment, and the animal's size, body condition, stage of life and level of production
- DMI is used to determine nutrient intake and compare feeds
- DMI increases or decreases to meet the energy needs of sheep
- DMI is impacted by heat stress
- DMI can be measured by automated feeding systems
Dry matter intake (DMI) is calculated by assessing feed ration, environment, and the animal's size, body condition, stage of life and level of production
Dry matter is a standard term for animal feed, referring to what is left of a plant when the water is removed. Dry matter contains the energy, protein, vitamins and minerals required by livestock for maintenance and production. Dry matter intake (DMI) is the amount of dry matter ingested by an animal per day, expressed as a percentage of live weight.
DMI is influenced by a variety of factors, including the diversity of feed available, selective grazing, and the presence of secondary compounds in plants. It is important to calculate DMI to ensure that the nutritional requirements of the animal are being met. There are three major factors that affect a ruminant animal’s DMI: feed ration, environment, and the animal itself.
Feed ration refers to the quality and availability of forage, as well as the amount and type of supplements. The environment includes factors such as weather conditions and the availability of grazing land. The animal itself encompasses size, body condition, stage of life, and level of production. For example, a sheep's diet may change over the grazing season due to the availability, quantity, and quality of the pasture.
To calculate DMI, producers often use reference tables or published data, taking into account the breed and size of the animal, as well as its energy expenditure. DMI is typically calculated at the beginning of the grazing season, with additional calculations made whenever changes occur. For sheep, the National Research Council (NRC) guidelines provide valuable information on the nutritional requirements of small ruminants, including sheep, and can be used as a reference for DMI calculations.
It is important to note that predicting DMI is not an exact science, and estimations may not account for all physiological, environmental, and management factors. Therefore, it is crucial to regularly evaluate and observe the animal's diet and health to ensure their nutritional needs are being met.
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DMI is used to determine nutrient intake and compare feeds
Dry matter intake (DMI) is a crucial factor in determining the nutrient intake of sheep and comparing the effectiveness of different feeds. DMI is the amount of feed consumed by an animal per day, excluding any moisture content. By analysing the diet on a moisture-free basis, producers can accurately estimate the nutrient intake and make informed comparisons between different feeds.
There are several factors that influence a ruminant animal's DMI. Firstly, feed ration plays a significant role, including the quality and availability of forage, as well as the type and amount of supplements provided. The environment is another important consideration, as weather conditions and climate patterns can impact the grazing season and the animal's energy requirements. Additionally, the animal's size, body condition, stage of life, and level of production all contribute to its DMI.
To ensure proper nutrition and health, DMI must be accurately measured or estimated before formulating an animal's diet. This is particularly important for sheep, as their nutritional requirements can vary depending on factors such as fleece density and length, which affect their energy needs. By adjusting the DMI, producers can maximise the energy expenditure of their animals during specific stages, such as lactation or growth.
Calculating DMI can be challenging, and it is not an exact science. Producers often rely on reference tables or published data to make predictions. However, these estimations do not always account for physiological, environmental, and management factors that can influence dry matter demand. Therefore, it is essential to regularly evaluate and observe the animals to ensure their nutritional requirements are being met.
By understanding DMI, producers can make informed decisions about feed selection and ration composition, ultimately optimising the health and productivity of their sheep. This includes considerations such as adding water during high temperatures to decrease dry matter concentration and prevent potential spoilage, as well as providing shorter chopped wheat straw in high-straw diets to improve DMI and reduce sorting by the animals.
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DMI increases or decreases to meet the energy needs of sheep
Dry matter is important in a sheep's diet because it provides the animal with the nutrients it needs for health and production. Dry matter intake (DMI) is the level of intake that an animal must consume from a ration that contains the recommended energy concentration for the animal's stage of life and level of production.
DMI can increase or decrease to meet the energy needs of sheep. For example, if a sheep producer wants to maximize the energy expenditure of their animals (e.g. during lactation or growth), they will increase or decrease the DMI to account for the new dry matter demands based on increased or decreased energy needs.
The energy requirements of sheep vary depending on factors such as the stage of production (growing, lactating, dry, etc.), air temperature, and water quality. For instance, yearling sheep have higher energy requirements than adult sheep due to their growth, and grazing sheep have higher energy needs than those in confinement.
The length and density of the sheep's fleece also affect energy requirements. Wool helps to protect sheep from heat and cold, and without it, their energy requirements would be higher. In addition, ewes raising multiple lambs may need additional supplementation to maintain their body condition.
Studies have shown that dry matter intake decreases following exposure to heat stress in sheep, and it is generally reduced during the summer season in all livestock species. Therefore, it is important to consider the environmental conditions when determining the DMI for sheep.
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DMI is impacted by heat stress
Dry matter, or dry matter intake (DMI), is the amount of feed an animal consumes per day on a moisture-free basis. It is important to determine an accurate estimate of the nutrient intake and to compare feeds. DMI is impacted by feed ration, the environment, and the animal itself.
Heat stress negatively impacts DMI in sheep. Sheep exposed to heat stress experience nutritional deprivation and loss of appetite. They also have to travel longer distances to access food and water. During hotter periods, available food is typically dry and highly fibrous, which increases the internal heat load. These factors cause a reduction in feed intake, which in turn decreases animal performance and negatively impacts the sheep industry financially.
Studies have shown that heat stress reduces DMI in cattle by approximately 12%. Similarly, heat-stressed sheep have an increased insulin response to a glucose tolerance test, indicating compromised health and performance.
The thermal environment is the largest single stressor affecting the efficiency of animal production systems. For sheep, the upper critical temperature is between 25 and 31 °C, beyond which their ability to maintain homeothermy is reduced. Sustained exposure to high temperatures during pregnancy reduces lamb birth weight.
To mitigate the effects of heat stress, physical cooling interventions such as providing animal shade or shelter can be implemented. These interventions have been shown to significantly alleviate heat stress.
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DMI can be measured by automated feeding systems
Dry matter intake (DMI) is an important variable in calculating an animal's nutrient intake. It is defined as the non-water portion of a feed ingredient or diet. DMI is the level of intake that an animal must consume from a ration that contains the recommended energy concentration for the animal's stage of life and level of production.
DMI can be predicted based on animal size, milk yield and composition, growth, and pregnancy. However, predicting DMI is not an exact science. It is usually estimated from reference tables or published data, which do not account for all the factors that alter dry matter demand.
Automated feeding systems can accurately record the weight of feed consumed, with each feed event recorded automatically against each RFID tag. The system can also control the amount of feed available for a single visit, with no restriction on the number of visits a sheep can make to the feeder. Once a sheep has exceeded its daily allowance, the system will restrict further access to the feed bin.
In one study, an automated feeding system was used to apply daily feeding levels to 126 Maternal Composite ewes. The sheep were adapted to the system over 19 days, with unlimited access to feed. Following this, the sheep were allocated restricted daily feed levels at 40%, 80%, 100%, 140%, and 180% of estimated maintenance requirements for 41 days.
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Frequently asked questions
Dry matter intake (DMI) is important to ensure the sheep is getting the right amount of nutrients for health and production.
Dry matter is calculated by working out the difference in dry matter between the feed offered and the feed refused by the sheep.
The three major factors that can affect a sheep's dry matter intake are feed ration, the environment, and the sheep itself (including size, body condition, stage of life, and level of production).
You can fat score your sheep to assess their body condition and determine if they are receiving adequate nutrition.
You can increase your sheep's dry matter intake by providing high-quality, nutrient-rich feed, and ensuring they have access to fresh, clean water at all times.
