Finishing lambs using an integral feed under a restricted-feeding program in an intensive production system in Northern Mexico

Abstract

The objective of this study was to compare the productive performance of finishing lambs using an integral diet under a restricted-feeding program. Ten Dorper lambs were assigned to two homogenous groups according to live weight and age under a complete randomised block design. Group 1 was fed a traditional diet commonly used by the producer and group 2 was fed an integral feed restricted to 75% of dry matter requirement of lambs. The evaluated variables were: dry matter intake, initial and final live weight, daily weight gain, feed efficiency and body growth expressed in height, body length, thoracic diameter, cane length and cane width. A partial cost analysis was carried out to evaluate the economic viability. Lambs fed with the integral feed had better feed efficiency, higher dry matter intake, daily weight gain, height, body length and thoracic diameter when compared with the lambs fed the traditional diet. The use of an integral feed under a restricted-feeding program reduced the cost of finishing lambs by 2.46 dollars per head and finishing length by 120 days. Overall, providing an integral feed under a restricted-feeding program is a viable alternative for improving finishing lambs under intensive conditions in the Northern Mexico.

Economic evaluation and productive performance of lambs finished with concentrate and corn stover

“…The feed used in intensive systems to fatten sheep includes total mixed diets or commercial concentrates combined with 20-30% forage. Alfalfa is generally used as forage, due to its year-long availability, particularly in central-northern Mexico (Muñoz-Osorio et al, 2016;Rodríguez-Hernández et al, 2019). The cost of commercial concentrates has become increasingly high and expensive for producers; however, approximately 50% of sheep farmers still depends on them (Muñoz-Osorio et al, 2015).…”

The impact of lamb diets containing either barley or corn on growth performance and carcass quality

“…Mixing different grains containing varying amounts of degradable carbohydrate improve growth performance and efficiency in ruminants [ 7 , 8 ]. Grain ratios for improving microbial activity in ruminants rely on the management of carbohydrate and protein content [ 9 ].…”

El horario de complementación alimenticia modifica la respuesta productiva de cabras lecheras en pastoreo

“…Sin embargo, los productores de los sistemas caprinos extensivos, de manera común rechazan la adopción de tecnologías que dupliquen labores y en consecuencia aumenten la carga de trabajo (3), ya que además de pastorear, el productor debe atender otras prioridades de índole personal y laboral (1). En este sentido, es prioritario generar estrategias que ayuden al productor a hacer eficiente el sistema de producción sin incrementar la cantidad de trabajo, y los costos de producción (11), sobre todo bajo los esquemas de producción extensiva en donde el tamaño de los rebaños limita el desarrollo y adopción de esquemas de manejo mejorados (12). Esto ha ocasionado que se plantee la hipótesis de que al ofrecer el complemento alimenticio en un determinado horario, se optimiza la respuesta productiva de las cabras.…”