Ingestion of soil by hoggets grazing swedes

Abstract

In a trial on winter feeding of hoggets, soil in faeces of animals grazing swedes reached a weekly mean of 61% of faeces D.M. Soil ingested reached a weekly mean of 1 kg. Soil in faeces increased progressively as swedes were eaten down to ground level, and fell sharply when animals were moved to a new break. Mean weights of soil ingested for 11 weeks for animals on swedes, on swedes and hay, and on unrestricted pasture were 6.5, 3.7, and 2.3 kg respectively.