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The effect of concentration of milk substitute on the performance of artificially reared lambs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

R. V. Large
R. V. Large
Affiliation:
The Grassland Research Institute, Hurley, Berkshire
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Summary

1. Six Dorset Horn lambs were reared on each of four different concentrations of reconstituted full-cream dried milk powder (10, 15, 20 and 25 % dry matter). The lambs were fed to appetite four times a day for 3 weeks.

2. The lambs consumed significantly more liquid milk at the two lower concentrations. Intake of water per se increased with increasing concentration of dry matter.

3. There were no significant differences in the consumption of milk dry matter between the treatments, although there was a significant linear trend, with dry-matter intake decreasing with decreasing concentration.

4. There were no significant differences between the treatments in live-weight gain from 0 to 3 weeks or from 0 to 10 weeks.

5. There were no significant differences in the efficiency of feed conversion between the treatments.

6. Examination of the distribution of milk intake within days showed that the proportion of milk voluntarily consumed in the first feed of the day increased with age and with concentration.

7. The incidence of scouring was high, but there was no general relationship with treatment.

8. Abrupt weaning was not satisfactory for the lambs which had been offered only liquid food for 3 weeks and they had to receive a low level of milk feeding for a further week while they became accustomed to solid food.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 7 , Issue 3 , October 1965 , pp. 325 - 332
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1965

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References

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