Production response of lambs receiving creep feed while grazing two different pastures

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the production responses of lambs receiving either creep feed or not while grazing two different pastures. The production of ewes within each treatment was also recorded. The study was conducted at both the Kromme Rhee and Langgewens Research Farms. At Kromme Rhee, sheep grazed kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) pasture under irrigation. Dohne Merino (n = 47) ewes, with their lambs, were randomly allocated to four groups. At Langgewens, the sheep grazed medic (Medicago parrabinga) pastures under dry-land conditions. South African Mutton Merino ewes (n = 89), with their lambs, were randomly divided into four groups. At Langgewens creep feed was provided at 200 g/lamb/day from the start of the study. This was increased by 100 g/lamb/day every week up to a maximum of 600 g/lamb/day. At Kromme Rhee, creep feed was provided at 200 and 300 g/lamb/day for the first and second week, respectively. From week three creep feed was provided ad libitum. At both locations ewes and lambs were weighed once a week. Live weight data of lambs and ewes were analysed by means of a multifactor analysis of variance with treatment (creep feed or no creep feed) and birth status (single and twins) as main factors. Provision a creep feed at Langgewens significantly increased lamb weight, but had no effect on ewe live weight. The provision of creep feed At Kromme Rhee significantly increased lamb weight as well as ewe weight. At both locations, birth status had no effect on the production parameters for ewes or lambs.

Effect of supplementary feeding to ewes and suckling lambs on ewe and lamb live weights while grazing wheat stubble

“…The ADG of lambs tended (P = 0.07) to be 9% higher in lambs whose mothers received supplementation than in those whose mothers received none (Table 3). Similarly, Terblanche et al (2012) found 28.5% increase in the LWC of lambs supplied with creep feed whose dams grazed medic pasture and 81.6% increase in the LWC of lambs that were supplied with creep feed whose dams grazed kikuyu pasture. No effects of the provision of creep feed to lambs on ewe LWC were obtained on medic pasture, while ewe live weight on kikuyu pasture increased significantly when their lambs received creep feed (Terblanche et al, 2012).…”

“…In addition, lambs that are exposed to supplementary feed reached slaughter condition at an earlier age. According to the literature, the quantity and quality of the pasture may also play an important role in the results from providing supplementary feed to ewes and creep feed to lambs (Terblanche et al, 2012).…”

Effects of creep feeding and its interactions with other factors on the performance of meat goat kids and dams when managed on pasture

“…Lamb studies have also yielded mixed results. Most studies reported significant improvements in weaning weights of creep-fed lambs ( Wilson et al, 1971 ; Vera and Ortega, 2000 ; da Silva et al, 2012 ; Terblanche et al, 2012 ; Brand and Brundyn (2015) . To the contrary, Glimp (1971) and de Villiers et al (2002) showed that creep feeding did not improve the weaning weight or ADG of lambs.…”

Effect of Creep Feeding of Lambs and Plane of Nutrition of Ewes on the Productive Performance of Ewes During Suckling Period

“…These results are in contrast with Brundyn (2002) and De Villiers et al (2002), who showed that the live weight of lambs that received creep feed differed significantly in weight (3.5 kg) over the trial period compared to those without. Terblanche et al (2012) stated also that lambs that received creep feed showed a significant difference significantly in live weight change from the second to the tenth week of the experimental period.…”

“…These results agreed with those obtained by Brundyn (2002) and De Villiers et al (2002), who stated that allocating creep to lambs had no effect on the weight changes of the ewes. Also, Terblanche et al (2012) concluded that the live weight change of ewes, whose lambs received creep feeding or not, had no differences.…”