Diets For Feedlot Lambs Research Articles

Ingestive behavior of lambs fed diets containing castor seed meal.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the substitution of soybean meal for castor seed meal (CSM) in diets for feedlot lambs and the effects of these diets on their ingestive behavior. Fifty male Santa Inês lambs were used. The diets were composed of Tifton 85 hay and a concentrate containing detoxified CSM substituting 0, 25, 50, 75, or 100% of the soybean meal. There was no effect (P > 0.05) of the CSM levels on the feeding, rumination, idle times, chews and time spent chewing per bolus, total chewing time, number of boli chewed, and number of chews per day. The dry matter (DM) intake decreased linearly (P < 0.05), but did not affect the neutral detergent fiber (NDF) intake. The feeding and rumination efficiencies had a quadratic response (P < 0.05). The experimental diets did not affect (P > 0.05) the numbers of feeding, rumination, and idle periods, but had a quadratic effect (P < 0.05) on the time per feeding activity and on the chewing periods. Substitution of soybean meal for detoxified CSM reduces the DM intake but does not change the ingestive behavior.

Substituting redberry juniper for oat hay in lamb feedlot diets: Carcass characteristics, adipose tissue fatty acid composition, and sensory panel traits

We hypothesized that ground juniper and dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) fed to lambs would have no negative effects on end products. Lambs were individually fed diets containing mainly sorghum grain and oat hay (control) or DDGS-based diets consisting mainly of DDGS, sorghum grain, and oat hay (0JUN), or 33% (33JUN), 66% (66JUN), or 100% (100JUN) of the hay replaced by juniper. Lambs fed control had greater (P<0.03) shrunk BW and HCW vs. lambs fed 0JUN, but other carcass characteristics and sensory panel traits were similar (P>0.23). As juniper increased in the DDGS-based diets, HCW increased quadratically (P=0.01) and LM fatty acid composition was altered. Feeding juniper did not negatively affect (P>0.57) off-flavor in chops, but enhanced (linear, P<0.05) juiciness, tenderness, and flavor intensity. Lambs fed diets with a combination of oat hay and ground juniper appeared to produce the most acceptable carcasses and lamb chops.

Effects of dietary brown propolis on nutrient intake and digestibility in feedlot lambs

The present study tested brown propolis in crude or extract form as a feed supplement for feedlot lambs to identify the type that most improves in vivo nutrient digestibility. Digestibility was assessed by both total fecal collection and internal markers and the results obtained by these techniques were compared. The completely randomized design was used to compare feed intake and nutrient digestibility of 24 male lambs aged seven months among four dietary treatments (crude brown propolis, propolis ethanol extract, monensin sodium, and control). Methods of feces collection were compared using a completely randomized split-plot design, with experimental diets corresponding to the main factor and the methods to estimate fecal production as the sub-factor. The diets had a roughage:concentrate ratio of 50:50, with Tifton-85 bermudagrass hay (Cynodon spp.) as roughage, and ground corn, soybean meal and minerals as concentrate. The lambs fed diets with crude propolis had higher feed intake than those fed diets containing monensin sodium. The different diets did not affect dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, or acid detergent fiber digestibility, but crude propolis supplementation provided higher ether extract digestibility than monensin sodium. Nutrient digestibility, as indicated by indigestible neutral detergent fiber, indigestible acid detergent fiber and sequentially-determined indigestible acid detergent fiber, was lower than that found with the fecal collection method. The addition of brown propolis has the same effect as monensin, but neither maximized nutrient availability in the diet of feedlot lambs at 7 months of age. Digestibility assessment using the internal markers indigestible neutral detergent fiber, indigestible acid detergent fiber and sequentially-determined indigestible acid detergent fiber is not an efficient method compared with total feces collection.

Digestibilidade e desempenho em cordeiros alimentados com dietas contendo feno de amoreira

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the intake, the digestibility and the performance of lambs fed with diets containing 0; 12,5 and 25% of mulberry hay in substitution of the concentrate. It was used a total of 24 lambs Ile de France breed, non castrated, average age 60 days and and 15 kg of body weight, confined, distributed in a completely randomized design. Voluntary intake of nutrients was not altered (P&gt;0.05) by different percentages of mulberry hay inclusion in the concentrate, except ether extract which decreased linear (P&lt;0.01). The digestibility of nutrients, days on feeding, daily weight gain and the feed conversion, were also not affected (P&gt;0.05). The partial substitution of the concentrate, based on soybean meal and corn grain, by mulberry hay up to 25% does not compromise the intake, the digestibility of nutrients and the performance of diet of feedlot lambs.

Effects of using ground redberry juniper and dried distillers grains with solubles in lamb feedlot diets: Growth, blood serum, fecal, and wool characteristics1

Effects of using ground redberry juniper and dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) in Rambouillet lamb (n = 45) feedlot diets on growth, blood serum, fecal, and wool characteristics were evaluated. In a randomized design study with 2 feeding periods (Period 1 = 64% concentrate diet, 35 d; Period 2 = 85% concentrate diet, 56 d), lambs were individually fed 5 isonitrogenous diets: a control diet (CNTL) that contained oat hay but not DDGS or juniper or DDGS-based diets in which 0 (0JUN), 33 (33JUN), 66 (66JUN), or 100% (100JUN) of the oat hay was replaced by juniper. During Period 1, lambs fed CNTL had greater (P < 0.05) DMI and ADG and tended to have greater (P < 0.10) G:F than lambs fed 0JUN or lambs fed DDGS-based diets. Lamb DMI, ADG, and G:F quadratically increased (P < 0.008) as juniper increased in the DDGS-based diets. During Period 2, lambs fed CNTL had greater (P < 0.05) DMI than lambs fed 0JUN or lambs fed DDGS-based diets, but ADG was similar (P > 0.41). Compared to 0JUN, lambs fed CNTL had similar (P = 0.12) G:F and tended to have less G:F (P = 0.07) than lambs fed DDGS-based diets. Among lambs fed DDGS-based diets, DMI was similar (P > 0.19), ADG increased linearly (P = 0.03), and G:F tended to decrease quadratically (P = 0.06) as juniper increased in the diet. Serum IGF-1, serum urea N (SUN), and fecal N were greater (P < 0.05) and serum Ca and P and fecal P were similar (P > 0.13) for lambs fed CNTL vs. lambs fed DDGS-based diets (CNTL). Within lambs fed DDGS-based diets, SUN increased quadratically (P = 0.01) and fecal N increased linearly (P = 0.004), which can partially be attributed to increased dietary urea and condensed tannin intake. Most wool characteristics were not affected, but wool growth per kilogram of BW decreased quadratically (P = 0.04) as percentage of juniper increased in the DDGS-based diets. When evaluating the entire 91-d feeding trial, results indicated that replacing all of the ground oat hay with ground juniper leaves and stems in lamb growing and finishing diets is not detrimental to animal performance and that DDGS-based diets can reduce total feedlot costs, as compared to sorghum grain and cottonseed meal-based diets. However, compared to using juniper or oat hay as the sole roughage source, using both during the growing period (Period 1) enhanced growth performance and further reduced total feedlot costs.

Effect of increasing levels of white mulberry leaves (Morus alba) on ruminal dry matter degradability in lambs

A study was conducted to estimate dry matter (DM) degradability in the rumen of lambs offered a basal soybean meal and sorghum grain diet with three levels of white mulberry (WM) leaves (Morus alba). Diets consisted of 90% concentrate and 10% sorghum straw, which was incrementally replaced by WM leaves at 0% (control diet, T1), 2.5% (T2), and 5% (T3) of the total ration. Crude protein (CP) in WM was 21.8% (DM basis). Diets had equal CP (14% DM basis) and metabolizable energy (10.8MJ/kg DM) content. Three non-castrated Pelibuey male lambs fitted with permanent rumen cannula were utilized in a 3 × 3 Latin square design. Each experimental period consisted of 10days of adaptation followed by sampling. DM degradability was determined using the nylon bag technique. Bags contained the experimental diets offered in each period and were incubated in rumen in pairs for 4, 8, 12, 24, and 48h. The potential degradation was higher (P < 0.05) for T2, followed by T3 and T1. WM level did not influence the degradation rate or the effective degradation at the three passage rates modeled. It was concluded that WM forage may have useful application in feedlot diets for growing lambs, as this forage increases potential degradation of high-grain diets. The incorporation of WM in diets for feedlot lambs in tropics may reduce the use of expensive conventional protein supplements.

CASCA DE SOJA NA ALIMENTAÇÃO DE CORDEIROS CONFINADOS: DESEMPENHO E CARACTERÍSTICAS DA CARCAÇA

Sixty Santa Ines ram lambs (16.4 kg BW and 67 days old) were used to evaluate the replacement of sugar cane bagasse (SB) by soybean hulls (SH) as NDF source on performance and carcass characteristics. The trial was conduced on a factorial arrangement 2 x 2 + 1 (two NDF sources: SB and SH, two NDF level: 14% and 18% and a control treatment containing 100% of concentrate), in a complete randomized block design, with five treatments and six replications. Animals on SH diets had higher ave-rage daily gain (P=0.07) than animals on SB. Diets con-taining fiber sources (SB or SH) had higher dry matter intake (PV 0.75) (P=0.09) compared to 100% concentrate diet. There was no difference (P>0.10) on feed conver-sion, carcass chilling losses, ribeye area and fat thickness. An interaction (P≤0.07) among NDF source and level was observed for the hot and cold carcasses yields. Soybean hulls improved performance when compared to sugar cane bagasse and can be used as the only fiber source in high concentrate diets for feedlot lambs. KEY-WORDS: Feedlot, fiber, high concentrate diets, sheep.

Effect of dietary supplementation with either conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) or linoleic acid rich oil on the CLA content of lamb tissues

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is produced in the rumen by isomerization of linoleic acid and has been shown to be a potent anticarcinogen in animal model studies. The objective of this study was to compare the relative increase in the CLA content of lamb tissues by dietary CLA supplementation (0.33 g/d for 21 days prior to weaning) to milk-replacer of pre-ruminant lambs or by feeding linoleic acid rich oil (Safflower oil, 6% DM-SAFF) to weaned ruminating lambs with that of lambs receiving unsupplemented milk-replacer and pelleted feed. Thirteen lambs were randomized to three dietary treatments (CLA-4, SAFF-4 and Control-5) and fed the pelleted diet for 80 days after weaning. Lambs were slaughtered at an average weight of 45 kg and tissue samples were procured from pars costalis diaphragmatis, leg, rib, subcutaneous adipose and liver for determination of fat and CLA content and fatty acid composition. Dietary supplementation with safflower oil increased fat content of subcutaneous adipose tissue only, but the CLA content of all the tissues was increased ( P < 0.05) by more than 200%. Dietary safflower oil increased ( P < 0.05) C18:2 in all tissues and C16:0 in the diaphragm, and decreased ( P < 0.05) C18:1 and C18:3 content in all tissues. Supplementation of the diet with pre-formed CLA prior to weaning decreased ( P < 0.05) fat content of the adipose tissue with decreases occurring in C18:0 relative to animals receiving the unsupplemented diet, however, tissue CLA content was not affected by provision of dietary CLA to pre-ruminant lambs. Results indicated that supplementation of lamb feedlot diets with a source of linoleic acid was a successful method of increasing CLA content of tissues.

Effects of lasalocid and protein levels on feed intake and growth rate of Awassi lambs

Lasalocid is a polyether antibiotic derived from the fermentation of streptomyces lasaliensis used as a coccidiostat in sheep. There are varying literature reports on lamb growth rate and feed intake when lasalocid is included in the diet of feedlot lambs. While some reports have shown that lasalocid enhances feed efficiency in ruminants by decreasing feed intake and either maintaining or improving rate of gain others indicate that lasalocid did not have any effect on lamb growth rates or feed efficiency (Stobart et al., 1987). Also, when lasalocid was fed to Chios lambs, growth rate was increased but there was no improvement in feed conversion efficiency (Hadjipanayiotou et al., 1988). There are no published data in the literature relating to the use of lasalocid as a growth promoter in the Awassi breed of sheep fed complete diets and the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of lasalocid with two levels of protein on the growth rate and feed efficiency of weaned male and female Awassi lambs.