Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Ferrous Sulfate on Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Finishing Lambs

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of including elevated levels of FeSO4 in lambs diet on DMI, growth, and carcass characteristics. Twenty-four Gulf Coast wether lambs (26.3 ± 3.63 kg initial BW, and 8 to 9 months of age) were assigned to one of 2 blocks based on their BW were randomly allocated to 1 of the 3 dietary treatments, giving 8 lambs per treatment. Animals were grouped in 2 pens per treatment (4 lambs/pen) with pen serving as the experimental unit. Treatment diets containing supplemental FeSO4 at 0, 75, or 150 mg/kg of DM were fed lambs. Treatment diets consisted of dry-rolled corn, SBM, and fescue/bermudagrass hay and were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric and to meet or exceed the NRC requirements of a finishing lamb. Lambs were slaughtered, and data were collected after a 48-h chill. Both growth and carcass quality data were analyzed using the GLM procedures. Dry matter intake, final BW, and ADG were not different among treatments (P = 0.5, 0.9, and 0.7, respectively). Also, no differences were observed in HCW (P = 0.9), CCW (P = 0.8), body wall fat (P = 0.6), 12th rib fat (P = 0.9), K&P fat (P = 0.9) and REA (P = 0.7) among treatments. These results support our hypothesis that the addition of 75 or 150 mg FeSO4 /kg in finishing lamb diets do not impact DMI, growth rate, and carcass characteristics of meat sheep.

The Effects of Maturity and Preservation Method on Nutrient Composition and Digestibility of Master Graze

The objective of experiment two was to evaluate the effects of maturity and harvest preservation method on Master Graze (MG) nutrient composition and digestibility. The MG was harvested on June 28 (Cut 1; 48 days), July 20 (Cut 2; 69 days), and August 12 (Cut 3; 92 days) and samples were then preserved using three different preservation methods (oven-dried hay (HAY), ensiled (SIL), or freeze dried (FD)) at each maturity. The collected samples were then analyzed for organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and lignin. The OM content was similar for Cut 2 and Cut 3 and both were higher (P < 0.01) than Cut 1 (92.4, 95.4 and 95.0% for cuts 1 to 3, respectively). The NDF content was highest (P < 0.05) with Cut 3 (63.1%) and was least (P < 0.05) with Cut 2 (60.1%). Cut 3 had a higher (P < 0.01) lignin content compared to both Cut 1 and Cut 2 (3.5, 3.4 and 4.1%, respectively). Crude protein content was higher (P < 0.01) for Cut 1 than Cut 2 and Cut 3 (8.0, 6.0, and 6.0%, respectively). The preservation method did not affect the CP or lignin content of the MG. The NDF content was highest (P < 0.01) with HAY (65.8%) and was least (P < 0.01) with FD (58.6%). The digestibility of the MG was measured under in situ conditions using one cow fitted with a rumen cannula. The ground oven-dried hay, ensiled and freeze dried samples were incubated in the rumen for 24 h using the mobile nylon bag techniques. The DM digestibility for Cut 1 and Cut 2 were higher (P < 0.01) than Cut 3 (70.0, 67.0 and 60.3%, respectively). The NDF digestibility was highest for Cut 1 and decreased (P < 0.01) with maturity (58.5, 51.6 and 43.8% for Cuts 1 to 3, respectively). Similarly, the CP digestibility was highest for Cut 1 and also decreased (P < 0.01) with maturity (68.3, 56.1 and 46.5% for Cuts 1 to 3, respectively). The DM and OM digestibility was higher (P < 0.04) with the FD in comparison to both HAY and SIL. Digestibility of NDF was not affected (P > 0.05) by preservation methods, while the CP digestibility was higher (P < 0.03) with the FD (61.6%) than the HAY (51.4%). In conclusion, the nutrient composition and digestibility of the MG were both affected by stage of the maturity and preservation method. The nutritional quality of MG decreased with advanced maturity and the MG digestibility was higher when FD preservation method was used.

Impact of Ergot Infested Sorghum on the Reproductive Performance of Sows

The experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of three levels of ergot infested sorghum (EIS ; 0 ,5 and 10% of diet DM) in the diets offered for sows during two reproductive cycles on total live born pigs and weight (LBP; WLBP), survival at 28 days, weight gain at day 28 and 56 (S- 28 d;W-28; W- 56), sows feed intake and weight change during lactation (LFI; LWC), and finally weaning-to-estrus interval (WEI). The EIS contained 235 mg/kg total alkaloids (77% as dihydroergosine “DHES”). During an initial test parity period (1st period) and subsequent test parity period (2nd period) eighteen later-parity sows were fed 3 treatments consisting of a sorghum-based control diets mixed with 1) 0%; 2) 5% or 3) 10% EIS (diet DM basis). An increase in WLBP was observed when 5 and 10% EIS was included in the 2nd period’s diets, although LFI was reduced when EIS was included in that period’s diets. Although W-28 d was not affected when 10% EIS was included in the 1st and 2nd periods’ diets and when W-28 d data of the two periods were combined, piglets W-28 was reduced when 5% EIS was included in the 1st period’s diets and when W-28 d data of the two periods were combined. Although treatment diets did not impact WEI of pigs in the 2nd period, and no response was recorded when 5% EIS was included in sows’ diets during the 1st period, the inclusion of 10% EIS had decreased the WEI during the 1st period.

Effects of Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles on Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Lamb

The effect of including two levels of dried distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS) in formulated diet on performance, and carcass characteristics of lambs was studied. Twenty-four Gulf Coast wether lambs (46.1 ± 1.2 kg initial BW, and 8 to 9 months of age) were divided into two groups based on their live body weight and randomly allocated to dietary treatments (2 per treatment; 4 lambs/pen; 8 lambs per treatment). Treatment diets containing DDGS at 0 (control), 12.7, or 25.4% on a DM basis were fed lambs. Basal diet contained dry-rolled corn, soybean meal, and fescue/bermuda grass hay. Dry Distillers grains with solubles was added to the finishing diets at either 12.7or 25.4% of the dietary DM to replace corn and SBM in basal diet. The concentrate mixes containing DDGS were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric to meet the NRC requirements of lamb. After 135-d feeding period final BW was recorded, then animals were slaughtered, and carcass parameters collected after a 48-h postmortem. Lamb performance and carcass quality data were analyzed using the GLM procedures. Dry matter intake and final BW of lambs were not different between treatment. Also, no differences were observed between treatments in hot and cold carcass wt, body wall fat, rib eye area, 12th rib fat, and kidney and pelvic fat depots. However a significant decrease (P ≤ 0.05) in average daily gain was found in lambs fed 0% DDGS diet compared to those fed 12.7 and 25.4% DDGS diets. These results supported the hypothesis that substitute of corn and SBM by up to 25.4% DDGS can be fed to lamb without adverse effect on carcass characteristics.

Influence of Feeding Peanut Skins on Performance of Gulf Coast Ewe Lambs

The effects of varying levels of dietary peanut skins (PS) inclusion on dry matter intake (DMI), growth, and carcass characteristics of lambs was assessed in 135-d feeding trial. We hypothesized that supplementing lambs’ diet with increasing levels of PS would increase DMI, enhance body growth, and impact carcass characteristics. Thus, the overall objective of the study was to gain a thorough understanding of the feeding value of PS to lambs. Twelve Gulf Coast ewe lambs (27.75 ± 0.93 kg initial body weight (BW) and 7 to 8 months of age) were blocked by BW and were randomly assigned within block to 1 of the 3 dietary treatments. Lambs were grouped in 2 pens per treatment (2 lambs/pen; n = 4/dietary treatment) with pen serving as the experimental unit. Lambs were fed dietary treatments containing 0 (control), 20, or 40% PS (DM basis) as a replacement for corn and SBM. Control diet contained dry-rolled corn, SBM, and fescue/Bermuda grass hay at forage to concentrate ratio of 63:37. All diets were formulated to meet or exceed the NRC requirements of the finishing lambs. At the end of the feeding trial, lambs were slaughtered, and carcass data were collected after a 48-h chill. Dry matter intake and final BW were not different among treatments (P >0.05). Also, no differences were observed in hot carcass weight (HCW; P = 0.57), cold carcass weight (CCW; P = 0.24), body wall fat (P = 0.06), 12th rib fat (P = 0.10), and kidney and pelvic fat (K&P fat; P = 0.65) among treatments. However, rib eye area (REA) was greater (P < 0.01) in lambs fed 0% and 20% PS than in lambs fed 40% PS. These results suggest that PS can replace a portion of corn and SBM commonly fed to lambs without any adverse effects on carcass characteristics or lambs performance. Thus, PS needs to be seriously considered as a potential low-cost feedstuff for ruminants.