Comparative Value for Sheep of some Protein Supplements Fed at Three Protein Levels

Abstract

In digestion and nitrogen balance trials with lambs, soybean oil meal, sesame oil meal and cottonseed meal were compared as protein supplements in semi-purified rations containing 4, 6 and 8% protein. The digestibility of protein at each protein level was significantly lower in the cottonseed meal ration (P<0.01) than in either of the other two rations. Also, average nitrogen retention at each protein level was lowest with the cottonseed meal ration and highest with the sesame oil meal ration. Although these differences in retention were not statistically significant, the trend of results was in accord with previous observations with lambs fed 9% protein rations containing sesame oil meal and cottonseed meal as protein supplements.