Abstract

Intensively reared early weaned lambs are conventionally fed a high energy concentrate diet in order to maximise daily gain and feed conversion efficiency. This reduces both the time required to reach slaughter weight and the overhead costs. However, it is estimated that feed costs in intensive lamb systems amount to 0.24 of the total output value (MLC 1998) and that the profitability is sensitive to relatively small changes in the lamb price to feed cost ratio. The objective of the work was to investigate the effects of various alternative feeds consisting of molassed sugar beet feed (MSBF), distillers products and the whole barley or grainbeet (200 g/kg MSBF and 700 g/kg brewers grain) on the performance and profitability of intensively reared lambs.

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