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Three methods for estimating in vivo body fat in sheep, by the assessment of body water using the deuterium oxide (Ddilution technique, adipose cell size (ACS) measurement and body condition scoring (BCS), were studied in mature ewes and compared to results obtained after slaughter and chemical analyses. Twenty Lacaune dairy ewes were slaughtered at three stages of lactation (30 days (n = 8), 60 days (n = 8) and 110 days (n = 4)), with a mean body weight (BW) of 72.7 ± 7.6 kg, 16.0 t 4.7 kg of body lipids (LIP) and 42.7 ± 3.8 kg of total body water. Body fatness ranged from 10.3 to 28.8 % of empty body weight. Although the ewes were relatively fat, the mean adipose cell volume of subcutaneous pericaudal or sternal adipose tissue (209 or 287 pl, respec- tively) was in the lower range of previously reported values, while cells from omental adipose tissue had a larger mean volume (804 pl) than has been previously reported. Due to differences in the frame of ewes, prediction of body lipids through D,O, ACS and BCS was improved by including body weight in the model. The best equations using ACS were obtained with subcutaneous fat tissues (sternal tissue: residual coefficient of variation (rCV) = 13.9 % and pericaudal: rCV = 17.8 %), fol- lowed by internal tissue (omental: rCV = 19.5 %). The rCVs of the prediction of body lipids with these in vivo methods were in general agreement with published works on cattle or sheep i.e. D 8.8 %, pericaudal ACS: 13.9 % and BCS: 16.7 %. The interest and limitations of the methods studied are dis- cussed in terms of different experimental objectives and constraints. (© Elsevier / Inra)

Le pâturage des prairies par les caprins, pratique traditionnelle délaissée lors du processus d'intensification, est un moyen de répondre aux enjeux émergents et futurs. La conduite du pâturage a fait l'objet de divers travaux, prenant en compte les particularités des caprins (notamment leur comportement alimentaire et leur sensibilité aux parasitisme), rassemblés dans ce n° thématique. D'autres études de Recherche et Développement sont également en cours à l'initiative de la filière caprine, en partenariat étroit entre recherche et professionnels.

National audience; In western France, which concentrates over half of the country's capacity in terms of dairy goat production, livestock farms have gradually turned to intensive farming over the last 10 years, thereby significantly increasing their need for purchased input. Professional goat farming organizations have recently implemented 2 coordinated Research and Development schemes. The Patuchev platform is an experimental facility aimed at developing and assessing innovative goat farming systems, essentially based on comparing 3 types of systems : one based onpasture with parturition at the end of the winter, and 2 others based on parturition in the autumn, one herd grazed on grassland and the other fed on hay indoors. The REDCap scheme will be surveying 34 volunteer goat farms with an aim to improving grazing practices and feed self-sufficiency. The 2 projects are being conducted by 2 different organizations, but with a strong wish to work in interaction with each other, and all those involved.; Dans le bassin caprin laitier de l'ouest de la France, qui concentre plus de la moitié de la production nationale, les élevages se sont intensifiés depuis 10 ans, en accroissant fortement leurs achats d'intrants. La filière caprine vient de mettre en place 2 dispositifs de Recherche et Développement coordonnés. Ces 2 dispositifs s'inscrivent dans un contexte en évolution qui encourage les systèmes plus autonomes et économes. La plate-forme Patuchev est un dispositif expérimenta ldestiné à la conception et l'évaluation de systèmes d'élevages caprins innovants ; trois conduites sont notamment comparées : l'une au pâturage avec une période de reproduction saisonnée ; les deux autres en contre-saison, un troupeau pâturant et l'autre étant conduit en chèvrerie. Le réseau REDCap va suivre 34 élevages caprins volontaires avec l'objectif d'améliorer l'alimentation à l'herbe et l'autonomie alimentaire des exploitations. Les deux projets sont portés par des structures différentes, avec le désir de travailler en interaction ainsi qu'avec de nombreux autres partenaires de la filière.