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Total mixed ration pellets for light fattening lambs: effects on animal health

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 September 2014

C. Blanco
Affiliation:
Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-Universidad de León), E-24346 Grulleros, León, Spain
F. J. Giráldez
Affiliation:
Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-Universidad de León), E-24346 Grulleros, León, Spain
N. Prieto
Affiliation:
Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-Universidad de León), E-24346 Grulleros, León, Spain
J. Benavides
Affiliation:
Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-Universidad de León), E-24346 Grulleros, León, Spain
S. Wattegedera
Affiliation:
Moredun Research Institute, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland EH26 0PZ, UK
L. Morán
Affiliation:
Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-Universidad de León), E-24346 Grulleros, León, Spain
S. Andrés
Affiliation:
Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-Universidad de León), E-24346 Grulleros, León, Spain
R. Bodas*
Affiliation:
Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-Universidad de León), E-24346 Grulleros, León, Spain
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Abstract

Fifty male Merino lambs (6 to 8 weeks, 14.1 kg; n=10 per group) were used to study the effect of feeding system: barley straw in long form and concentrate pellets in separate troughs (Control), ad libitum alfalfa supplemented with concentrate in separate troughs (Alfalfa) or including various levels of ground barley straw in concentrate pellets (B05, B15 and B25 for 50, 150 and 250 g barley straw/kg), on rumen characteristics, acid-base status, blood cell counts and lymphocyte stimulation. Alfalfa lambs had the heaviest digestive tract contents, highest rumen pH values, lowest volatile fatty acid concentration, highest papillae counts and best mucosa colour and the greatest blood pCO2 values, lowest sodium and chloride and highest potassium concentrations (P<0.05). Including ground barley straw in the concentrate pellet or providing straw in long form separately from the concentrate reduces rumen pH and darkens ruminal mucosa as compared with alfalfa-fed lambs, thus affecting acid-base status.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© The Animal Consortium 2014 

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