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Effect of Size of Grind and Level in the Ration of Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, of Trace Minerals and an Implanted Tranquilizer on the Performance of Fattening Lambs^{1, 2, 3,}

Purdue University Agricultural Experiment Station, Lafayette, Indiana

Abstract

Research was conducted to determine the effect of size of grind of dehydrated alfalfa meal, level of dehydrated alfalfa meal and the addition of trace minerals and vitamin B₁₂ to a pelleted feeder lamb ration consisting of 60% roughage, 32% ground yellow corn, 7% soybean oil meal, 1% bone meal, 0.5% iodized salt and vitamin A and D.

The size of grind of the dehydrated alfalfa meal (3/64'', '' and '') had no effect on performance of fattening lambs, except that the hemoglobin level was significantly higher (P<0.05) for lambs fed the %4'' grind of dehydrated alfalfa meal in their pellet (12.21 gm. %) than for lambs fed either of the two coarser grinds in their pellet (11.64 gm. %).

Lambs whose pellet contained 40% dehydrated alfalfa meal and 20% ground corn cobs gained significantly faster (P<0.05) than those whose pellet contained 20% dehydrated alfalfa meal and 40% ground corn cobs.

Carcasses from lambs fed the 40% level of dehydrated alfalfa meal in their pellet graded significantly higher (P<0.01) than those from lambs fed the 20% level.

The addition of the trace minerals, manganese, cobalt, copper, iron and zinc and of vitamin B₁₂ had no overall effect on growth rate or level of hemoglobin. However, castrate males fed the trace minerals and B₁₂ gained significantly more than the females on the same ration.

The subcutaneous implantation of a 10-mg. pellet of trifluomeprazine, either at the start of the trial or on the 42nd day of the trial, resulted in a statistically significant increase in gain (P<0.05). A 5-mg. implant had no effect. None of the tranquilizer treatments tested had an apparent effect on carcass quality.

¹ Contribution from the Department of Animal Science, Journal Paper No.1578, Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana.

² The research reported in this paper was supported in part by a grant in-aid from the Smith-Kline-French Laboratories, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

³ The alfalfa meal used was furnished by the W. J. Small Division, Archer-Daniels-Midland Company, Minneapolis, Minnesota.