Hair Sheep Production in Temperate, Deciduous Appalachian Silvopastures

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dc.contributor.authorFannon-Osborne, Amy Gailen
dc.contributor.committeechairFike, John H.en
dc.contributor.committeememberFeldhake, Charles M.en
dc.contributor.committeememberWahlberg, Mark L.en
dc.contributor.committeememberMcKenna, James R.en
dc.contributor.departmentCrop and Soil Environmental Sciencesen
dc.date.accessioned2017-04-04T19:49:32Zen
dc.date.adate2012-07-24en
dc.date.available2017-04-04T19:49:32Zen
dc.date.issued2012-07-02en
dc.date.rdate2016-09-30en
dc.date.sdate2012-07-15en
dc.description.abstractSilvopastoral management has potential to diversify and increase the output from livestock production systems. Silvopasture production offers solutions to many management issues associated with grazing systems in the Appalachian region. Several tree species have been proposed for silvopastures in humid temperate regions, but little data comparing animal performance from systems with different deciduous tree species are available. Forage and animal performance was compared from open systems (i.e., no trees) with that from silvopastures containing 13-yr-old honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos) or black walnut (Juglans nigra) trees. Cool-season grass-legume pastures were rotationally stocked with hair sheep crosses from mid-June through September. The objective of this project was to determine carcass characteristics and meat quality of hair sheep crosses grazing honey locust or black walnut silvopastures in comparison with traditional pasture systems. Forage production varied by year with black walnut having lower production, especially in the 2009 season with black walnut producing less forage compared to open pastures and honeylocust silvopastures (P=0.0008). Only small differences in forage nutritive value were observed. Total gains and average daily gains (ADG) did not differ by treatment in 2008, but during the 2009 season black walnut silvopastures produced half the total gains (P=0.0427) and ADG (P=0.0513) of open pastures and honeylocust silvopastures. Carcass characteristics evaluated did not vary among treatments except hot carcass weight with black walnut having lower weights (P=.0045). Meat quality characteristics did not vary among treatments (P>0.1). Shear force and fat content showed great differences and varied by year (P<0.05). Overall, carcass and meat quality was similar for all treatments showing great promise for silvopastures.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.identifier.otheretd-07152012-210527en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-07152012-210527/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/76825en
dc.language.isoen_USen
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectHoneylocusten
dc.subjectHair Sheepen
dc.subjectSilvopastureen
dc.subjectAgroforestryen
dc.subjectBlack Walnuten
dc.titleHair Sheep Production in Temperate, Deciduous Appalachian Silvopasturesen
dc.typeThesisen
dc.type.dcmitypeTexten
thesis.degree.disciplineCrop and Soil Environmental Sciencesen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen

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