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Adaptation of Early-Weaned Lambs to High-Concentrate Diets with Three Grain Sources, with or without Sodium Bicarbonate¹

U.S. Department of Agriculture², El Reno, OK 73036

Abstract

One hundred and eight spring lambs from yearling Rambouillet ewes that were bred to Rambouillet Hampshire or Finn-Dorset rams were weaned at 34 d of age after a 2-wk exposure to a creep diet. Two pens of three lambs (two ewes and one wether) from each of the three breed groups were fed each of six diets for 28 d. The diets contained either corn, sorghum or wheat with or without 2% sodium bicarbonate. The wheat grain contained approximately 14% cheat. All diets contained 12% cottonseed hulls as a roughage source. Lambs were weighed and ruminal fluid and blood samples taken at 3, 7, 14 and 28 d postweaning. Lambs offered corn and sorghum diets consumed more feed (P<.05) and gained more weight (P<.01) than lambs on the wheat diets. Sodium bicarbonate had minimal effects on lamb performance. Hampshire-cross lambs consumed more feed (P<.05) and gained fastest (P<.05), while Finn-Dorset-cross lambs tended to gain with least efficiency (P<.10). Ruminal pH was not affected by sodium bicarbonate or grain source. Ruminal ammonia and blood urea N were increased (P<.01) by wheat diets. Hematocrit and hemoglobin were lower (P<.01) in lambs fed corn diets. Ruminal lactate was normal (4 to 5 mg/liter) and not affected by diet. Sodium bicarbonate increased acetate (P<.01) and butyrate (P<.05) concentrations in the rumen and increased (P<.01) total ruminal volatile fatty acid concentration in lambs fed all three grains. Performance of lambs fed wheat diets containing cheat was inferior to those fed corn or sorghum diets. Sodium bicarbonate had minimal effects on animal performance.

¹ Appreciation is expressed to Guy Robson, Ron Graber and Miles Sanders for care of the animals and Bette Krause for laboratory analysis. Appreciation is expressed to Dr. Bob Morrison and Dave Christopher for statistical analysis.

² USDA, ARS, Livestock and Forage Research Laboratory, P.O. Box 1199, El Reno, OK 73036.