Effect of Feeding Frequency on Intake, Digestibility, Ingestive Behavior, Performance, Carcass Characteristics, and Meat Quality of Male Feedlot Lambs

Rodrigo B. Saldanha, Ana C. P. dos Santos, Henry D. R. Alba, Carlindo S. Rodrigues, Douglas dos S. Pina, Luis G. A. Cirne, Stefanie A. Santos, Aureliano J. V. Pires, Robério R. Silva, Manuela S. L. Tosto, Silvia C. Bento, Amanda B. Grimaldi, Carly A. Becker and Gleidson G. P. de Carvalho
Additional contact information
Rodrigo B. Saldanha: Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology Baiano, Valença 45400000, Bahia, Brazil
Ana C. P. dos Santos: Department of Animal Science, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador 40170110, Bahia, Brazil
Henry D. R. Alba: Department of Animal Science, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador 40170110, Bahia, Brazil
Carlindo S. Rodrigues: Department of Animal Science, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador 40170110, Bahia, Brazil
Douglas dos S. Pina: Department of Animal Science, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador 40170110, Bahia, Brazil
Luis G. A. Cirne: Institute of Biodiversity and Forestry, Universidade Federal do Oeste do Pará, Santarém 68035110, Pará, Brazil
Stefanie A. Santos: Department of Animal Science, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador 40170110, Bahia, Brazil
Aureliano J. V. Pires: Department of Animal Science, Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia, Itapetinga 45700000, Bahia, Brazil
Robério R. Silva: Department of Animal Science, Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia, Itapetinga 45700000, Bahia, Brazil
Manuela S. L. Tosto: Department of Animal Science, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador 40170110, Bahia, Brazil
Silvia C. Bento: Department of Animal Science, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador 40170110, Bahia, Brazil
Amanda B. Grimaldi: Department of Animal Science, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador 40170110, Bahia, Brazil
Carly A. Becker: Penn State Extension, College of Agricultural Sciences, Penn State University, State College, PA 16802, USA
Gleidson G. P. de Carvalho: Department of Animal Science, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador 40170110, Bahia, Brazil

Agriculture, 2021, vol. 11, issue 8, 1-12

Abstract: The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding frequencies (one, two, three, and four times per day) on the performance of male feedlot lambs. Forty Santa Inês male lambs were used with an average age of 120 days approximately and initial body weight of 24.90 ± 1.8 kg (mean ± S.D.). The lambs were distributed to treatment groups in a completely randomized experimental design, with 10 animals per treatment, placed in individual pens. A standard diet consisted of Tifton-85 hay and concentrate with a ratio of 60:40, respectively. The different feeding frequencies did not influence ( p > 0.05) the intake of nutritional components, blood parameters, weight gain, ingestive behavior, carcass characteristics, or meat quality of male feedlot lambs. The feeding frequency of 3 and 4 times per day promoted the highest digestibility of neutral detergent fiber (NDF; p = 0.008) and total digestible nutrients (TDN; p = 0.002). The feeding frequency of 3 times per day promoted the highest digestibility of crude protein (CP; p = 0.005). The time devoted to rumination (min/kg DM) was increased ( p = 0.029) when the diet was supplied once a day compared to the other feeding frequencies. Based on these results, the recommended feeding frequency for male feedlot lambs is once a day. When feeding at this frequency, the ingestive behavior, productivity, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of male feedlot lambs will not be compromised.

Keywords: feeding frequency; intensive system; ruminant nutrition; sheep (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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