Evaluating the Effect of Maternal Gestation Diet, Differing in Type and Amount of Fiber, on Ewe and Offspring Body Weight and Feed Intake
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Date
2024-05
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The Ohio State University
Abstract
The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of feeding different types and amount of fiber during gestation on ewe body weight (BW) and dry matter intake (DMI), and lamb BW at birth, weaning, and finishing and DMI at finishing. Ninety Dorset × Hampshire ewes were blocked by BW and randomly assigned to one of three treatments (3 pens/treatment; 10 ewes/pen;): ad-libitum hay (CONT), limit-fed hay (LH), and soybean hulls (SH). The concentrate roughage ratio for the LH and SH diets was 1:3. From d0 (28 days post mating) to d63, LH and SH ewes were fed using slick bunk management. Ewes in the CONT diet were offered an equal amount of concentrate as LH ewes and SH ewes with ad-libitum access to hay. On d63 ewes were offered the same diet to meet, but not exceed, maintenance requirements for late gestation. Feed offered and refused were collected daily for LH and SH ewes whereas hay refusal was collected weekly for CONT ewes. Ewe BW was collected on days 28, 34, 76, and two-days after lambing. Fifty-five whether lambs were blocked by BW and day of lambing and allocated to 18 pens (6 pens/treatment; 3-4 lambs/pen). Lamb BW was collected at birth, weaning, and finishing, and DMI was collected during the finishing phase. Data were analyzed as a mixed model considering the fixed effect of treatment and random effects of ewe or lamb (pen), pen, and block. Ewe dry matter intake was similar the first 28 days (P=0.13), however, SH ewes consumed more by d62 (P=0.02). As ewe DMI increased, BW also increased during gestation for SH ewes (P≤0.01) but was similar two-days after lambing (P=0.21). Lambs born of SH ewes were heavier at birth, but lighter at weaning (P≤0.02). There was no difference during finishing on lamb BW (P=0.65), DMI (P=0.54), ADG (P=0.48), or feed efficiency (P=0.48). Despite each diet having the same forage to concentrate ratio, forage source affected ewe BW during gestation and lamb BW at birth and weaning. Feeding hay ad-libitum or in a controlled manner did not change ewe or lamb BW.
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Keywords
soybean hulls, hay, sheep, maternal nutrition