Soybean Meal-Sheep
Australian researchers determined the effects of feeding small, isocaloric
amounts of supplement on growth performance, plasma metabolites and
fat deposition in lambs fed low quality roughage. The four treatments
were: 1) a basal diet of lucerne:oat hay (7.0MJ/kg DM); 2) basal diet
plus 84g canola meal per day; 3) basal diet plus 75g soybean meal per
day; and 4) basal diet plus 80g of fish meal per day. Significant increases
in dry matter intake, metabolizable energy and crude protein intakes
were observed in all of the supplemented treatments during this 53-day
experiment. Live weight gain was significantly increased by the canola
and soybean meal treatments (P<0.01) and fish meal (P<0.001).
Feed efficiency and adipose tissue at the 12th rib were reduced in all
supplemental treatments compared to the basal treatment. Plasma urea
nitrogen increased after feeding in all treatments with no treatment
differences. The researchers concluded that feeding lambs small amounts
of high protein and lipid-containing supplements improves the production
response and carcasses quality compared to lambs fed a low quality hay
diet.
Ponnampalam, E.N., and co-workers. 2005. Feed intake, growth, plasma glucose and urea nitrogen concentration, and carcass traits of lambs fed isoenergetic amounts of canola meal, soybean meal, and fish meal with forage basal diet. Small Ruminant Research 58(3): 245-252.
