Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different levels of NDF in high-concentrate diets on performance and aspects ruminal, blood, and carcass parameters of finishing lambs. Twenty-four lambs, with initial BW of 24 ± 3 kg, were randomly divided into individual pens, in a completely randomized design, comprising three treatments with eight repetitions each. The treatments consisted of dietary levels of 15%, 20%, and 25% of NDF, based on DM. The diets were composed of corn, soybean meal, minerals, and corn silage and were offered twice a day, with daily control of what was offered and refused, to determine dry matter intake (DMI). The animals were weighed weekly and slaughtered after 50 days of confinement. Performance evaluations, blood parameters, carcass, and ruminal parameters were evaluated. Lambs fed with lower dietary fiber had better carcass yield (P < 0.005). Blood count, blood biochemical parameters, rumen short-chain fatty acid production and protozoan population were not affected by the dietary NDF level. It was concluded that in high-concentrate diets with 15% NDF resulting in better weight gain of the animals in the confinement, good carcass yields without the animal having altered health and ruminal parameters.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
AOAC. 1995 ‘Official methods of analysis.’ 16th ed. Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Arlington, VA.
Asadollahi, S., Sari, M.; Erafanimajd, N., Kiani, A., Ponnampalam, E.N., 2017. Supplementation of sugar beet pulp and roasted canola seed in a concentrate diet altered carcass traits, muscle (longissimus dorsi) composition and meat sensory properties of Arabian fattening lambs. Small Ruminant Research 153:95–102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2017.05.012
Cañeque, V., Sañudo, C., 2000. Metodologia para el estudio de la calidad de la canal y de la carne en ruminantes. Madrid: INIA, 255 p.
Cannas, A., Tedeschi, L.O., Fox, D.G., Pell, A.N., Van Soest, P.J., 2004. A mechanistic model for predicting the nutrient requirements and feed biological values for sheep. Journal of Animal Science 82:1, 149–169. doi:https://doi.org/10.2527/2004.821149x
Dehority, BA., 2003. Rumen microbiology. Nottingham, UK, Nottingham University Press.
Esmaeili, M., Khorvash, M., Ghorbani, G.R., Nasrollahi, S.M., Saebi, M., 2016. Variation of TMR particle size and physical characteristics in commercial Iranian Holstein dairies and effects on eating behaviour, chewing activity, and milk production. Livestock Science 191, 22–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2016.07.003
Gallo, S.B., Merlin, F.A., Macedo, C.M., Silveira, R.D.O., 2014. Whole grain diet for Feedlot Lambs. Small Ruminant Research 120: 185–188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2014.05.014
Galyean, M. L.; Defoor, P. J. Effects of roughage source and level on intake by feedlot cattle. Journal of Animal Science, Champaign, 81, issue 14, suppl 2, p. E8-E16, 2003. https://doi.org/10.2527/2003.8114_suppl_2E8x
Getachew, G., Makkar, H.P.S., Becker, K., 2002. Tropical browses: contents of phenolic compounds, in vitro gas production and stoichiometric relationship between short chain fatty acid and in vitro gas production. Journal of Agricultural Science 139: 341–352. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0021859602002393.
Kaneko, J.J., Harvey, J.W., Bruss, M.L., 2008. Clinical biochemistry of domestic animals. 6. ed. San Diego, California, Academic Press.
Kozloski, G.V., Trevisan, L.M., Bonnecarrère, L.M., Härter, C.J., Fiorentini, G., Galvani, D. B., Pires, C. C., 2006. Levels of neutral detergent fiber in lambs diets: intake, digestibility and ruminal fermentation. Arq. Bras. Med. Vet. Zootec., 58: 5, 893–900. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0102-09352006000500027.
Lima, L.D., Rêgo, F.C.A., Koetz Junior, C., Ribeiro, E. L. A., Constantino, C. Belan, L., Gasparine, M. J., Sanches, A. F., Zundt, M., 2013. Interference from high-grain diet on carcass and meat characteristics of Texel lambs. Semina: Ciências Agrárias 34, 6: 4053–4064. https://doi.org/10.5433/1679-0359.2013v34n6Supl2p4053
Majdoub-Mathlouthi, L., Saïd, B., Say, A., Kraiem, K., 2013. Effect of concentrate level and slaughter body weight on growth performances, carcass traits and meat quality of Barbarine lambs fed oat hay based diet. Meat Science 93:3, 557–563. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2012.10.012
Mengesha, M., Bezabih, M., Mekonnen, K., Adie, A., Duncan, A. J., Thorne, P., Tolera, A., 2017. Tagasaste (Chamaecytisus palmensis) leaf supplementation to enhance nutrient intake and production performance of sheep in the Ethiopian highlands. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 49:1415–1422. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-017-1342-4.
Mertens, D.R., 1997. Creating a system for meeting the fiber requirements of dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 80: 1463–1481.
NRC. Nutrient requirements of beef cattle. 7th ed. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1996. 242 p.
NRC, 2007. Nutrient requirements of small ruminants: sheep, goats, cervids, and new world camelids. 6th ed. rev. National Academies Press, Washington, DC, USA.
Ozdogan, M., Ustundag, A. O., Yarali, E., 2017. Effect of mixed feeds containing different levels of olive cake on fattening performance, carcass, meat quality and fatty acids of lambs. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 49:1631–1636. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-017-1369-6
Palmieri, A.D., Carvalho, G.G.P., Tosto, M.S.L., Leite, V.M., Santos, S.A., Borja, M.S., Azevêdo, J.A.G., Freitas Júnior, J.E., Leite, L. C.; Rufino, L.M.A., 2017. Feeding behavior of finishing goats fed diets containing detoxified castor meal, co-product of the biodiesel industry. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 49:389–395, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-016-1206-3
Papi, N., Mostafa-Tehrani, A., Amanlou, H., Memarian, M., 2011. Effects of dietary forage-to-concentrate ratios on performance and carcass characteristics of growing fat-tailed lambs. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 163:93–98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2010.10.010.
Pereira, M.C., Cruz, G.D., Arrigoni, M.D., Rigueiro, L., Silva, J., Carrara, T.V., Santos, P.C., Cursino, L.L., Millen, D.D., 2016. Relationships of feedlot performance, feeding behavior, rumen morphometrics, and carcass characteristics of Nellore cattle differing in phenotypic residual feed intake. Journal of Animal Science 94:4287–4296. https://doi.org/10.2527/jas.2016-0579
Queiroz, M.A.A, Susin, I., Pires, A.V., Mendes, C.Q., Gentil, R.S., Almeida, O.C., Amaral, R. C., Mourão, G. B., 2008. Lamb performance and estimation of starch digestibility of diets with different protein sources Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira 2008; 43, 1193–1200.
Santarosa, BP, Ferreira DOL, Rodrigues MMP, Dantas, G. N., Sacco, S. R., Lopes R. S., Dias, A., Gonçalves, R. C., 2016. Clinical, laboratory and anatomopathological evaluation of the urinary system of feedlot sheep with or without ammonium chloride supplementation. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 36:1–12. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-736X2016000100001
Smith, P.S., 2008. Dietary fiber requirements of feedlot lambs. 59 f. Thesis Magister Scientiae Agriculturae, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein.
Tedeschi, L.O., Nicholson, C.F., Rich, E., 2011. Using System Dynamics modelling approach to develop management tools for animal production with emphasis on small ruminants. Small Ruminant Research 98: 102–110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2011.03.026
Weiss, D.J., Wardrop, K.J., 2010. Schalm’s veterinary Hematology. Ames, IO, Wiley–Blackwell.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gallo, S.B., Brochado, T., Ariboni Brandi, R. et al. Implications of low fiber levels in finishing lambs on performance, health, rumen, and carcass parameters. Trop Anim Health Prod 51, 767–773 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-018-1750-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-018-1750-0