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Supplementation of Farm Roughages for Pregnant Ewes in Dry Lot¹

Purdue University Agricultural Experiment Station

Abstract

Three experiments are reported in which ground corn cobs, corn silage, grass silage, or alfalfa hay was fed as the sole source of roughage to pregnant ewes in dry lot. Rations were balanced by the addition of protein and energy feeds.

There was no consistent beneficial effect from the addition of B-complex vitamins including B₁₂ to supplemented corn cob rations. Supplemented corn silage ewes produced heavier fleece weights than ewes fed a ration of corn cobs and supplement or alfalfa hay during gestation and lactation.

Ewes fed supplemented corn silage produced larger lambs at birth than ewes on rations of corn cobs and supplement, grass silage and supplement, and corn silage or alfalfa hay alone. However, lambs from alfalfa hay-fed ewes had a lower rate of mortality.

Ewes fed supplemented corn cobs produced satisfactory lambs as indicated by birth weight and rate of gain.

¹ Contribution from the Department of Animal Husbandry, Journal Paper No. 729, Purdue University Agricultural Experiment Station, Lafayette, Indiana.

² A part of the data in this paper was submitted by the senior author in a thesis for the degree of Master of Science.