Effect of concentrate: voluminous ratio on the performance of Santa Inês lambs

Abstract

The experiment was carried out in the sheep division of Universidade Federal de Lavras, aiming to evaluate the effect of different concentrate : voluminous ratio on the performance of Santa Inês lamb after wean. 40 lambs, male uncastrated, were used and fed with four different diets: diet A (100% concentrate), diet B (75:25 concentrate : voluminous) , diet C (50:50 concentrate : voluminous) , diet D (25:75 concentrate : voluminous). The experimental diets were isoproteic, differing only on its levels of concentrate : voluminous and balanced to meet the nutritional demands according to the recommendation of the Agricultural Research Council (1980). The experimental period was not pre-established, because it corresponded to the necessary period for the last lamb to reach the live weight of 35kg. The dry matter consumption (DMC), crude protein consumption (CPC), fiber in neutral detergent consumption (FNDC) and fiber in acid detergent consumption (FADC), were affected by the different concentrate : voluminous ratio, in which, the animals that received diets with higher concentrate inclusion presenting better results for the variables related to the development. The lambs fed with the diet containing higher inclusion of voluminous did not present weight gain, on the contrary, presented weight loss, since none of the animals reached slaughter weight and the mortality rate was extremely high (80%).Index terms: Consumption, Santa Inês, sugar cane, nutrition, sheep. RESUMOO experimento foi conduzido no Setor de Ovinocultura da Universidade Federal de Lavras, com o objetivo de avaliar os efeitos das diferentes relações concentrado:volumoso sobre o desempenho de cordeiros Santa Inês após o desmame. Foram utilizados 40 cordeiros, machos não castrados, que foram alimentados com quatro dietas: dieta A (100% concentrado), dieta B (75:25 concentrado:volumoso), dieta C (50:50 concentrado:volumoso) e dieta D (25:75 concentrado:volumoso). As dietas experimentais foram iso-protéicas, diferenciando apenas em seus níveis de concentrado:volumoso e foram balanceadas para atender às exigências nutricionais segundo as recomendações do Agricultural Research Council (1980). O período experimental não teve duração pré-fixada, pois correspondeu ao período necessário para que o último cordeiro atingisse o peso vivo de 35 Kg. Os consumos de matéria seca (CMS), consumos de proteína bruta (CPB), consumos de fibra em detergente neutro (CFDN) e consumos de fibra em detergente ácido (CFDA), foram afetados pelas diferentes relações de concentrado:volumoso, sendo que, os animais alimentados com dietas com maior inclusão de concentrado apresentaram os melhores resultados para as variáveis relativas ao desenvolvimento. Os cordeiros alimentados com a dieta com maior inclusão de volumoso não apresentaram ganho de peso, pelo contrário, apresentaram perda de peso, sendo que nenhum animal chegou ao peso de abate e a mortalidade foi extremamente alta (80%).

Effects of diets with high and low protein contents and two concentrate levels in Santa Ines×Texel lambs

“…These values are higher than those that were found in the present study, likely because those authors used much higher CP levels. Lower ADG values were observed by Oliveira et al (2009) when evaluating the effects of concentrate levels in diets containing 16.3% CP on the performance of Santa Inês lambs slaughtered at 35 kg. The authors found ADGs in lambs that were fed diets with 75% and 100% concentrate of 160 and 146 g/day, respectively.…”

“…Oliveira et al (2009) found a FC of 5.03 and 5.10 for diets containing 100% and 75% concentrate, respectively. Moreno et al (2010) found no differences in FC in lambs that were fed diets with forage: concentrate ratios of 60:40 and 40:60, while also observing an average of 3 kg DM/kg of body weight gain.…”

“…Therefore, the finishing of feedlot lambs is directly related to the use of good quality protein to improve animal performance (Oliveira et al, 2009). Lu et al (2012) reported that the protein requirements for growth and maintenance depend on many factors such as different growth environments, physiological conditions, and nutritional status of the animal.…”

Increasing levels of concentrate digestibility, performance and ingestive behavior in lambs

“…Sheep breeding is one of the main economic activities of the northeast, mainly for meat production, which satisfies much of the demand for animal protein for the local population. However, the production system in this region is characterized as extensive, showing low stocking rate of native pastures, low meat and low reproductive efficiency, resulting in a low economic performance to farmers The growing demand for sheep meat, registered over the last years, propelled the increase in the lamb production for slaughter, creating a necessity of improvement in the exploration techniques (OLIVEIRA et al, 2009). Quality and quantity of feed are the major factors in increasing ruminant productivity under tropical conditions.…”

Effect of Different Levels of Soybean Meal in Fattening Farmer Diet on Awassi Lambs Performance and Carcass Characteristics

“…formulation diets (Taher, et al, 1987). Oliveira, et al, (2009) and Ebrahimi, et al, (2007) stated that increasing the level of protein and energy concentrations in ruminants' diet will improve the feed conversion ratio and reduce the period to reach a slaughter weight. In this respect, Qasim et al, (1993) added non-protein nitrogen sources to barley to improve the efficiency of animal utilization.…”