EFFECT OF QUALITY OF ROUGHAGES IN DIETS FOR EARLY WEANED LAMBS
Miroslav Simeonov, Nikolay Todorov, Atanas Kirilov
Abstract: The objective of the experiment is to determine the influence of the replacement of alfalfa hay with wheat straw in rations of lambs (from 10 to 25 kg live weight), weaned at 9 to 10 kg live weight and 19 days of age. Lambs were fed with pelleted protein concentrate, whole maize grain and alfalfa haw for
control group or wheat straw for experimental group. During the period from 10 to 16 kg live weight lambs of both group received additionally 100 g soybean meal per day/animal. The intake of straw was lower, than intake of alfalfa hay. As compensation lambs receiving straw consumed more concentrate. As a result the daily gain was higher in the group receiving wheat straw. The low intake of the two roughages, does not lead to the significant difference in price the two rations, with hay or straw. Despite of the decrease in the level of protein to 13.9-1 4.6% of rations dry matter and removal of soybean meal from the rations for lambs after 16 kg, the daily live weight gain was relatively high, from 268 to 300 g, for the Blackhead Pleven Dairy Sheep breed.
control group or wheat straw for experimental group. During the period from 10 to 16 kg live weight lambs of both group received additionally 100 g soybean meal per day/animal. The intake of straw was lower, than intake of alfalfa hay. As compensation lambs receiving straw consumed more concentrate. As a result the daily gain was higher in the group receiving wheat straw. The low intake of the two roughages, does not lead to the significant difference in price the two rations, with hay or straw. Despite of the decrease in the level of protein to 13.9-1 4.6% of rations dry matter and removal of soybean meal from the rations for lambs after 16 kg, the daily live weight gain was relatively high, from 268 to 300 g, for the Blackhead Pleven Dairy Sheep breed.
Keywords: intake; lambs; level of protein; live weight gain; quality of roughage; roughage
Date published: 2023-01-30
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