Abstract
The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding frequencies (one, two, three, and four times per day) on the performance of male feedlot lambs. Forty Santa Inês male lambs were used with an average age of 120 days approximately and initial body weight of 24.90 ± 1.8 kg (mean ± S.D.). The lambs were distributed to treatment groups in a completely randomized experimental design, with 10 animals per treatment, placed in individual pens. A standard diet consisted of Tifton-85 hay and concentrate with a ratio of 60:40, respectively. The different feeding frequencies did not influence (p > 0.05) the intake of nutritional components, blood parameters, weight gain, ingestive behavior, carcass characteristics, or meat quality of male feedlot lambs. The feeding frequency of 3 and 4 times per day promoted the highest digestibility of neutral detergent fiber (NDF; p = 0.008) and total digestible nutrients (TDN; p = 0.002). The feeding frequency of 3 times per day promoted the highest digestibility of crude protein (CP; p = 0.005). The time devoted to rumination (min/kg DM) was increased (p = 0.029) when the diet was supplied once a day compared to the other feeding frequencies. Based on these results, the recommended feeding frequency for male feedlot lambs is once a day. When feeding at this frequency, the ingestive behavior, productivity, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of male feedlot lambs will not be compromised.
Highlights
Thereby, the objective of this study was to evaluate the intake, digestibility, ingestive behavior, performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of feedlot lambs subjected to four different feeding frequencies
No differences were observed in final body weight (FBW) (p = 0.881), Total weight gain (TWG) (p = 0.875), average daily gain (ADG) (p = 0.869), and feed conversion (FC) (p = 0.894) with the different feeding frequencies
The results found can probably be extrapolated to systems of animals housed in groups, considering that this system has more effect on the behavior than on the performance of feedlot lambs [56]
Summary
Researchers have reported that intensive systems are an effective method for raising feedlot lambs. This system shortens the production cycle allowing for increased carcasses processed in the same amount of time and better quality meat [1,2,3]. Animal scientists have discovered new feed ingredients for use in the diets of lambs [4,5,6], which has contributed to greater weight gains and improved meat quality. The scope of productive efficiency in feedlot animals depends on other factors, including the strategy of how the diet is fed [2]
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