Early weaning and concentrate supplementation on the performance and metabolic profile of grazing lambs

Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia

Silva, Marina Gabriela Berchiol da¹  Fernandes, Sergio Rodrigo¹  Pinto, Pedro Henrique Nicolau¹  Silva, Cláudio José Araújo da¹  Dittrich, Rosangela Locatelli¹  Monteiro, Alda Lúcia Gomes¹  Salgado, Jordana Andrioli¹  Beltrame, Olair Carlos¹ 

[1] UFPR, Curitiba

关键词: average daily gain;    concentrate feed;    energy;    growth;    protein;    suckling     Introduction Several strategies have been studied to maximize animal productivity and improve economic results in Brazilian lamb meat production;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S1516-35982012000500029

学科分类：兽医学

来源: Universidade Federal de Vicosa

【 摘 要 】

This study was designed to investigate the effect of early weaning and concentrate supplementation on performance and metabolic profile of lambs in four production systems on pasture: suckling lambs not supplemented until slaughter; suckling lambs supplemented with concentrate in creep feeding until slaughter; early weaned lambs not supplemented until slaughter; early weaned lambs supplemented with concentrate until slaughter. Performance was assessed by average daily gain (ADG) and body condition score (BCS) measurements. Metabolic profile was delineated by measuring serum albumin, urea, creatinine, cholesterol, glucose and aspartate aminotransferase. Weaning reduced ADG by 92 g/d and the ADG for weaned and suckling lambs were 113 g/d and 205 g/d, respectively. Supplementation increased ADG by 117 g/d and the ADG was 99 g/d for non-supplemented and 216 g/d for supplemented lambs. Body weight and BCS at the end of trial were lower in weaned and non-supplemented animals (20.7 kg and 1.5 points), and higher in those on creep feeding (35.3 kg and 3.3 points). Weaning decreased serum levels of albumin, cholesterol and aspartate aminotransferase. Supplementation increased serum albumin and decreased serum aspartate aminotransferase. Serum urea was not affected by weaning or supplementation and remained high during the trial. Serum creatinine and glucose were lower in weaned and non-supplemented lambs. Early weaning generates unsuitable metabolic profile and low performance and may not be recommended as single strategy to produce lambs on pasture. Concentrate supplementation has similar response to suckling on the performance and metabolic profile of animals, and may be considered an efficient strategy to improve the nutritional status of early weaned lambs.

【 授权许可】

CC BY-NC