S.C. Loerch1, P.A. Tirabasso, G.D. Lowe, and D. Clevenger
The Ohio State University Department of Animal Sciences
Abstract
Offering lambs unlimited access to feed has been the standard feeding practice of the sheep industry for decades. A clean or slick bunk management system may improve feed efficiency by reducing feed wastage and eliminating wide variation in day-to-day intake. The objective of this trial was to establish intake patterns so that bunks were without feed (i.e., slick) for 0, 1.5, 3, or 6 hours daily to determine effects on lamb performance. Sixty-four Hampshire sired crossbred wether lambs (89 ± 0.3 lb) were used in the 42-day trial. Four bunk management strategies were investigated: 1) 24 hour feed access; or bunks empty for the following times: 2) 1.5 hours slick; 3) 3 hours slick; or 4) 6 hours slick. Overall gains were not affected by bunk management. Lambs were easily trained to eat a full ration of feed in an 18-hour period. The clean bunk management strategies neither encouraged extra intake (through increased bunk competition) nor decreased intake (due to insufficient time to eat).