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Influence of Short-Term Consumption of Sewage Solids on Productivity of Fall-lambing Ewes and Performance of their Offspring^{1 ,2,}

New Mexico State University², Las Cruces 88003

Abstract

During the second month of pregnancy, 67 mature fine wool sheep were randomly allotted to one of three treatments in which the influence of dietary sewage solids on ewe productivity, blood constituents, serum progesterone and subsequent lamb performance was examined. A basal diet was fortified with either 3.5% cottonseed meal or 7% undigested, irradiated sewage solids. Lambs from each maternal group were fed an 18% protein diet for 83 d. Neither basal nor sewage diets adversely affected monthly ewe weight changes during pregnancy compared to cottonseed meal (P>.25) but ewes fed the basal diet weighed less (P<.10) during mid and late lactation than did ewes fed cottonseed meal and sewage diets. Number of lambs born and birth and weaning weights did not differ (P>.10) among the dietary regimens. Sewage feeding elevated (P<.05) serum glucose at parturition compared to basal and cottonseed meal diets but at weaning, this difference was not apparent. Weekly serum progesterone levels in ewes were unaffected (P>.10) by sewage compared to basal or cottonseed meal feeding. Total postweaning gain by lambs from ewes fed sewage and basal diets did not differ but lambs from ewes fed cottonseed meal gained less (P<.10) during the 83-d feedlot trial. Carcass quality and yield were also similar (P>.05) among the three groups and liver Ag was the only tissue mineral elevated (P<.01) in lambs from ewes fed sewage. Sewage solids comprising 7% of total intake from midgestation through lactation had no detectable detrimental influence on ewe productivity or on subsequent performance of offspring.

¹ Journal Article 810 of the New Mexico Agr. Exp. Sta. This study was supported in part by funds from the US Dept. of Energy/Albuquerque Operations under Contract No. DE-AC04-76ET-33626 and in cooperation with Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque.

² Dept. of Anim. and Range Sci. Appreciation is expressed to L. A. Tiemey, C. W. Crusberg, P. A. Trujillo, N. S. Urquhart, C. Griffin and B. Gardner for their assistance. We also thank Dr. G. D. Niswender (Dept. of Physiol, and Biophys., Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins) for the supply of progesterone -11 BSA (GDN337) antiserum used in progesterone determinations. Direct reprint requests to D. M. Hallford.