Feed intake and performance of growing lambs raised on concentrate-based diets under cafeteria feeding systems

Abstract

Two trials were undertaken to study the effects of cafeteria feeding systems on the feed intake, animal performance and carcass characteristics of growing lambs. Trial 1 was designed to compare conventional and cafeteria feeding systems in terms of the growth of individually reared lambs. For this assay, 26 weaned Merino lambs (15.5^0.20 kg live weight) were assigned to three dietary treatment groups: (1) a control group fed barley straw and commercial concentrate under a conventional feeding system, (2) group W100S, fed soya-bean meal, whole barley grain and a mineral-vitamin supplement under a cafeteria feeding system, and (3) group W100S-T, fed as in the W100S treatment but allowing the lambs an initial training period so they could learn to identify a number of feeds. The feeding system had no significant effect ( P . 0.05) on either average daily live-weight gain, carcass weight, or carcass conformation. The food conversion ratio was lower ( P , 0.05) for the cafeteria-reared animals (2.9^0.16 v. 2.5^0.08 g dry-matter intake per g average daily gain) than those of the control group. This might be related to the higher crude protein intake seen in the cafeteria groups (150^5.6 v. 208^12.5 g per animal per day; P , 0.001).In trial 2, cafeteria and conventional feeding system were compared in terms of the growth of feedlot lambs. Two hundred weaned Merino lambs (13.1^0.10 kg) were divided into two experimental groups: (1) a control group, offered commercial concentrate and barley straw, and (2) a cafeteria group fed the same diet as W100ST in trial 1. The average daily gain (282^5.8 and 309^6.5; P , 0.01) was greater in the cafeteria than in the control group. Whereas neither carcass conformation nor fatness were affected by the feeding system, the dressing percentage was slightly higher ( P . 0.001) in the conventional than in the cafeteria system lambs.The use of cafeteria systems for fattening lambs can improve the feed conversion efficiency and body growth rate over those achieved with conventional feeding systems, although the crude protein intake in these systems seems to be in excess of requirements.

Effects of Birth Weight and Feeding System on Fattening Performance and Feeding Behaviour of Karayaka Male Lambs

“…These findings support the idea that lambs offered a choice among an option of feeds (ground barley, cottonseed meal, wheat bran and alfalfa hay) successfully regulated their nutrient intakes and attained better growth performance (Görgülü et al, 1996;Dikmen et al, 2009). However, the results do not confirm that cafeteria or FCF reduces the feed intake of lamb, as it can balance its nutrient requirement well (Sahin et al, 2003;Askar et al, 2006;Rodríguez et al, 2007;Dikmen et al, 2009;Kaya, 2011). These results indicate that the intake regulation mechanism is most probably not specific for BtW of lambs, but it may change when animals are free to choose when and what to eat, or if chemical composition allow them meeting nutritional requirements of the animals (Fedele et al, 2002;Dikmen et al, 2009).…”

“…A cafeteria feeding system or offering free-choice of food (free choice feeding, FCF) may be a practical alternative that offers some advantages over conventional compound feeding of fattening lambs (Fedele et al, 2002;Dikmen et al, 2009). Indeed it has been indicated that sheep, reared in a controlled environment can successfully select a diet of adequate intake from a suitable pair of feeds to match their nutritional requirements and have a feed efficiency and body growth rate similar or better than those achieved with conventional feeding system (FS) (Sahin et al, 2003;Askar et al, 2006;Rodríguez et al, 2007Rodríguez et al, , 2008Dikmen et al, 2009). Behavioural responses such as feeding and welfare behaviours are very important in connection with feed intake and feeding management, since it has direct effects on consumption patterns, feedstuff availability and selection of feeds (Keskin et al, 2004;Kaya, 2011).…”

Early experience with diverse foods increases intake of nonfamiliar flavors and feeds in sheep1,2

“…Keskin et al (2004) observed greater protein intake and decreased energy intake in free-choice fed lambs compared with lambs fed a single ration, which also was associated with a similar performance among treatments. Protein overingestion in ruminants is likely to be related to the maintenance of ruminal homeostasis when ruminants ingest diets high in grain or secondary compounds, both of which can induce acidosis (James et al, 2001;Rodriguez et al, 2007). Acidosis can be prevented by the buffer capacity of ammonia (one of the byproducts of protein degradation) in the rumen (Owens et al, 1998).…”

Preferences of Rusa timorensis to Grasses and Their Body Morphometry and Velvet Antler Characteristics

“…Grasses in each ration were offered individualy to five experimental deers in separate feed throught in a cafetaria system (Babayemi et al, 2006;Farid et al, 2006;Rodriguez et al, 2007). Each grass was offered 2.25 kg at 07.00 and 16.00.…”