Abstract
To produce lambs of the Ojalada breed, included within the Protected Geographical Indication “Lechazo de Castilla y Leon”, three feeding systems were compared (40 ewes/treatment): a) IND +CH+ C, ewes kept indoors and fed chopped straw plus concentrate, prepared on location and distributed mechanically (total mixed ration; TMR); b) IND + W+C, ewes kept indoors and fed whole straw in the form of large bales, plus concentrate (TMR); and c) GR + C, free-range grazing plus concentrate (control group). Live-weight, reproductive endpoints, milk production and composition (10 sheep from single lambing/treatment), and growth of lambs up to 35 days were assessed. Live-weight of ewes from the IND + CH + C group were similar to those in the GR + C group (p > 0.05). Treatments did not differ for fertility or prolificacy, except for fecundity in the IND +W+ C group compared to values for the IND + CH+ C and GR + C groups. The quantity of milk produced through 35 days did not differ (~1,300 mL d–1), with peak production in all three groups in the third week of lactation (~1,500 mL d–1). Milk chemical composition generally did not differ among treatments; only ewes in the IND +CH+C group presented greater protein content in the third week of lactation. Although treatments did not differ in live-weight at birth to 35 days, IND + CH+ C lambs differed in average daily gains, reaching 9 kg of live-weight (minimum weight for slaughter) at ages younger than the other groups whether from simple or double lambing. We can conclude that this type of production, keeping sheep closed and fed a TMR, is possible.
Highlights
The region of Castilla y León (Spain), which holds the PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) “Lechazo de Castilla y Leon”, is the main producer of suckling lambs of this category in Spain
Milk production and composition from lactating ewes can affect the growth of lambs (Appedu et al, 2004; Casals et al, 2006; Sanz Sampelayo et al, 2007)
The two primary cost factors in traditional systems of sheep husbandry include expenses for dietary supplements and for labour; both of these factors have an economic effect as well as influencing quality of life for sheep raisers and causing them major labour difficulties. The conjunction of both factors demands a management strategy based on the use of agrarian subproducts through total mixed ration (TMR) diets to achieve automation of feeding over a minimum-cost equation (López, 2007)
Summary
The region of Castilla y León (Spain), which holds the PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) “Lechazo de Castilla y Leon”, is the main producer of suckling lambs of this category in Spain. Lambs from the Churra, Ojalada, or Castellana breeds are raised without having been separated by sex and are fed exclusively on mothers’ milk. In this regard, milk production and composition from lactating ewes can affect the growth of lambs (Appedu et al, 2004; Casals et al, 2006; Sanz Sampelayo et al, 2007). The two primary cost factors in traditional systems of sheep husbandry include expenses for dietary supplements and for labour; both of these factors have an economic effect as well as influencing quality of life for sheep raisers and causing them major labour difficulties The conjunction of both factors demands a management strategy based on the use of agrarian subproducts through total mixed ration (TMR) diets to achieve automation of feeding over a minimum-cost equation (López, 2007). Many papers have been published following this line of research, dealing with using TMR diets of only one type of feed that can be given to animals kept indoors (Ciria et al, 1997; Hernández et al, 1997; Oviedo et al, 1997; Sanz et al, 1997; Joy et al, 2006), evaluating productive endpoints with the goal of a reduced dependence on grazing and labour
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