Four ruminally and duodenally cannulated Suffolk wether lambs (34.5 +/- 2.0 kg initial BW) were used in a 4 x 4 Latin square-designed experiment to examine the effects of ruminal protein degradability and supplementation frequency on site and extent of digestion in lambs consuming a low-quality forage diet. Wethers were fed a basal diet of mature crested wheatgrass hay (4.2% CP) for ad libitum ...

Data from Dorper and Rambouillet ram lambs (n = 79) were used to estimate breed means for postweaning growth rate, feed intake, feed conversion efficiency (kilograms of gain divided by kilograms of feed consumed), and residual feed intake on a high concentrate diet during the typical age and weight range for U.S. lamb production. Lambs were progeny of 6 unrelated sires/breed and were born over ...

A three-year survey (1997-99) was carried out on organically reared sheep flocks throughout Sweden. The aim was to determine the prevalence and intensity of nematode infections and to establish relationships between sheep management practices and parasite infections. Faecal samples from ewes and lambs were collected from 152 organic flocks around lambing-time and during the grazing-period for a...

Inclusion of thiopeptin, a sulfur-containing peptide antibiotic, at 0, 2.75, 5.5, 8.25, 11 and 22 ppm in the feed was evaluated in 8-week growth trials with 252 lambs. An abrupt diet shift to micronized milo at the start of the trials was used to provide a lactic acidosis challenge. Five of 78 control lambs died within 48 hr after the challenge. In lambs fed diets containing thiopeptin at level...

To determine the effect of breed on copper status of crossbred (F1) lambs, a study was conducted using 187 crossbred wether lambs. Wether lambs were progeny of five ram breeds (Dorset, Finnsheep, Montadale, Romanov, and Texel) and two ewe breeds (Rambouillet and a composite breed [1/2 Columbia, 1/4 Suffolk, 1/4 Hampshire]). Diets were adjusted to decrease crude protein twice during the experime...

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of presence or absence of rumen ciliate protozoa on nutrient intake, its utilization, rate of body weight gain and feed conversion ef®ciency of lambs in post-weaning phase of growth. Forty ®ve weaned Malpura lambs, divided into three equal groups (G1, G2 and G3) were either defaunated by periodic dosing of sodium lauryl sulfate at the rate of 8 g/...

Fourteen fall-born lambs were used to determine the effects of diet before and after weaning on intake, growth, serum hormones, and metabolite profiles. Before weaning, lambs were intensively sampled for 6 h at 35 and 42 d of age. Before sample collection, lambs were allowed to suckle, and milk intake was recorded. At 42 d of age, lambs were weaned and randomly allotted to ad libitum access to ...

Cardiac defects associated with increased pulmonary blood flow result in pulmonary vascular dysfunction that may relate to a decrease in bioavailable nitric oxide (NO). An 8-mm graft (shunt) was placed between the aorta and pulmonary artery in 30 late gestation fetal lambs; 27 fetal lambs underwent a sham procedure. Hemodynamic responses to ACh (1 microg/kg) and inhaled NO (40 ppm) were assesse...

The use of terminal sires (TS) for crossbreeding is integral to the UK sheep industry where approximately 71% of market lambs are sired by TS rams. Early growth of these crossbred lambs affects profitability. The objectives of this study were i) to evaluate the effectiveness of index selection among TS on BW and ADG of their crossbred offspring; and ii) to compare the efficacy of that selection...

1. Forty-eight intact male lambs (30 kg) were fed to gain 16 (H), 5 (M) or -6 (L) kg during a 42 d interval (period 1). Lambs from each of the H and M groups were fed to gain either 16 (HH, MH), 5 (HM, MM) or -6 (HL, ML) kg and lambs from the L group were fed to gain 27 (LS), 16 (LH) or 5 (LM) kg during the ensuing 42 d (period 2). 2. Fasting heat production (FHP) of four lambs from each treatm...