127 Effects of Reed Sedge Peat on stress and digestibility of lambs at weaning

Abstract

Fourteen lambs (age = 71.5 ± 4.15 d; BW = 24.1 ± 3.82 kg) were used to test the effects of feeding Reed Sedge Peat (RSP) during weaning. Lambs (10 females, 4 males) were randomly assigned by sex to one of two groups, they were either fed 56.8 g/d of RSP, or were not fed RSP. Both groups were fed 0.5% BW 18% show lamb grower complete feed (Ware Milling, Houston, MS) and had ad lib access to pasture [80% bermudagrass (Cynadon dactylon) and 20% dallisgrass (Paspallum dilatatum) during the day during the weaning portion of the study (14 d prior to weaning through 14 d after weaning). On d 15 after weaning, 10 of the lambs (6 females, 2 males) were randomly selected by treatment and moved to small individual pens where they underwent a digestibility trial for 8 days (3 d adjustment and 5 d collection) during which they were fed 1% BW hay/d and 4% BW/d 18% show lamb grower complete feed used during the weaning trail. At d 2 an initial blood sample was taken via jugular venipuncture, then ACTH was injected into the vein. Blood samples were taken at 15 min intervals for 1 h following synthetic ACTH injection, and analysed by conducting a cbc with differential. Reed-Sedge Peat had no effect (P > 0.05) on digestibility of DM, OM, ash, protein, NDF, ADF, HC, or fat. Reed-Sedge Peat, also had no effect on intake DM (P = 0.3184), DMI per BW (P = 0.1062), hay intake (P = 0.9581), hay intake per BW (P = 0.9330), or concentrate intake (P = 0.8744). There was a tendency (P = 0.0552) for increased intake for RSP with regard to the concentrate. No difference for blood parameters between groups (P > 0.05).