Animal unit equivalent (AUE) and daily energy requirements for Kordi breed of Khorasan, Iran

More than 27 sheep breeds graze on Iran's rangelands. For estimation of grazing capacity in each region it is necessary to determine size and body weight, animal unit equivalent (AUE) and daily requirement for each breed. In this research, animal unit equivalent (AUE) and daily requirement energy for Kordi Khorasan breed was investigated. For this purpose, two herds of Kordi breed were selected. In each herd, 15 three years old ewes, 15 four years old ewes, 5 three years old rams, 5 four years old rams, 10 three month old lambs and 10 six month old lambs were selected. They were weighed three times including; in winter rangeland, when grazing from pasture and house keeping feeding period. According to the results; animal unit weight for herds (three and four years old ewe) was weight 45/9±0.76 kg. Therefore, animal unit equivalent (AUE) for rams, ewes and lambs were 1.42, 0.89 and 0.53 respectively. Two seasons grazing, two herds, two sexes two age and alternate affects herds*season grazing, herd*sex, season grazing* sex and sex*age were significant differed on average animal weight. According to MAFF equation, 1984; daily metabolizable energy requirement for maintenance condition by considering condition of rangelands and distances from watering points and plant density in lowland and highland rangelands was calculated 8.95 Mj (including that multiplied by 1.4). Dry matter requirement based on forage quality in lowland rangelands was calculated 1.47 kg. This amount based on 2 percentage of body weight (Holchek,s equation), is 0.92 kg that the different between amount, show that considering of forage quality for determinate of animal requirement is important.