Effect of milk replacer and rumen inert fat on growth and reproduction of Malpura ram lambs

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of milk replacer and rumen inert fat on growth, testicular development, puberty, semen production and sperm motion characteristics of ram lambs reared under intensive management in semi-arid climatic conditions. Seven-day-old male lambs of Malpura breed (n = 20) were divided equally into two groups. Up to weaning, the lambs in G1 group (control) were fed concentrate, green khejri (Prosopis cineraria) leaves and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) hay along with suckling of dams, whereas lambs in G2 group were fed reconstituted milk at 17 g/lamb per day for the 1st week and at 34 g/lamb per day from 2nd week in addition to the feed inputs given in G1. During post weaning, lambs in the G1 group were given control concentrate, whereas in G2 the control concentrate supplemented with 40 g rumen inert fat per kg of feed was offered along with dry pala (Zizyphus nummularia) and ardu (Ailanthus excelsa) leaves. BWs of lambs were recorded weekly up to 6 months of age. Ram lambs of both the groups were trained for semen collection at a weekly interval from the age of 5 months and simultaneously testicular measurements were recorded fortnightly. The feeding of milk replacer and rumen inert fat had positive ( P < 0.05) effects on BW, testicular length, testicular volume, semen volume, sperm concentration, mass motility, % motility, % rapid, medium or slow motile spermatozoa. However, no significant effect was observed on testicular breadth, scrotal circumference, age of puberty, sperm velocities and other CASA-derived parameters. The results of this study indicate that higher plane of nutrition in the form of milk-replacer feeding during preweaning and rumen inert fat-supplemented feed during the postweaning period to growing ram lambs enhances their growth, testicular development and semen quality.

Effect of fat levels in early phase on growth performance and meat characteristics in twin lambs

“…In this study, lambs fed HF diet before day 60 had improved growth performance in terms of BW and ADG at both 60 and 120 days of age. Similarly, the study showed that the higher plane of nutrition in the form of milk replacer feeding during the preweaning period and rumen inert fat-supplemented feed during the post-weaning period to grow ram lambs enhances their growth (Kumar et al 2014). High energy feeding is required for the rapid growth of young lambs as high energy diets are used more efficiently in the growth promotion of young animals (Mahgoub et al 2000).…”

Sexual performance and semen quality of pubertal lambs treated with different weaning methods

“…In SCD the lambs are placed in adjacent pens for several weeks where they cannot suckle milk from the mother, but the social-affective contact between lamb and mother continues (Freitas-de-Melo and Ungerfeld, 2016). The study by Sowinska et al (2001) showed that temporary separation before weaning from 15 d of age improved the health and immune status of the lamb by supplementing with pre-and postweaning probiotics (Viérin and Bouissou, 2003;Kumar et al, 2014). It is unknown if SCD has a prolonged effect on stress levels or has a negative effect on post-weaning productive performance of lamb (Teixeira et al, 2014;Backes et al, 2015).…”