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Effect of Elfazepam on Apparent Digestibility, Intake and Gain in Sheep^{1 ,2 ,3,}

University of Nebraska^,5, Lincoln 68583

Abstract

The effect of elfazepam on apparent digestibility, feed intake and body weight gain of sheep, and in vitro dry matter disappearance (IVDMD) was studied. In a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial digestion trial 24 sheep were fed a corn cob-soybean meal or a corn cob-alfalfa diet at ad libitum or restricted levels of feeding and received 0 or 8 ppm of elfazepam. Elfazepam significantly increased total dry matter (DM) intake but did not change percentage digestibility of DM, crude protein (CP), neutral (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF). Two ruminally fistulated sheep, fed a corn cob diet with or without elfazepam, served as inocula donors for the IVDMD trial. Elfazepam did not influence microbial activity as reflected in the dry matter disappearance (DMD) values. In a lamb growth trial two diets consisting primarily of 77.5% corn cobs or 75% corn grain with and without 4 ppm elfazepam were fed to 36 lambs during 60 days. Elfazepam in both diets increased (8.7%) average DM intake (P<.10) and (23.6%) daily gain (P<.10) and increased (7.5%) feed required for gain above maintenance (P<.01). The increase of feed intake caused by elfazepam in sheep was not associated with a decrease in digestibility.

¹ Published with the approval of the Director as Paper No. 5746 Journal Series, Nebraska Agr. Exp. Sta.

² This work was supported in part by a grant-in-aid to C. A. Baile from the Cooperative State Research Service of the USDA.

³ Elfazepam was supplied by Smith Kline Animal Health Products.

⁴ Univ. of Pennsylvania, Kennet Square.

⁵ Department of Animal Science.