Experiment Procedures
Sixty-four Hampshire sired crossbred wether lambs (89 ± 0.3 lb) were allotted to 16 pens with 4 lambs per pen. 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. The experiment was a randomized complete block design, blocked by four initial body wt groups. Pens were fed beginning at 1430 hours each day. Feed delivery was adjusted daily to ensure that the 24 hour feed access pens always had feed present in the bunks. Feed was removed from the bunks at 830, 1130, and 1300 hours for the 6, 3, and 1.5 hours slick management strategies, respectively. Feed intake was adjusted to minimize feed present at the above times. The diet used was 83% whole shelled corn and 17% of a pelleted supplement (Table 1).
The 42-d trial was initiated in September, 1999. Initial and final weights of the lambs were determined using the average of weights taken on two consecutive days, and 14-day intermediate weights were taken prior to feeding. Average daily gain, DMI, and feed efficiency (gain/feed) were determined. The pens (5 X 16 ft) were constructed using expanded metal floors, with metal gates on three sides and a wooden fence-line feed bunk (5-feet long) on the fourth side. Each pen had an automatic water cup so that water was available at all times. Statistical analysis was performed using the GLM procedure of SAS for a randomized complete block design. The model contained effects due to initial body weight and feeding strategy. Pen was used as the experimental unit. Treatment means were compared using the PDIFF statement of SAS (1998) when protected by a significant (P < 0.05) F-value.