Results and Discussion
Lambs adjusted rapidly to the various methods of bunk management and gains were as good the first week as they were throughout the remainder of the trial (Table 2). Overall gains were not affected (P > 0.70) and averaged 0.6 lb/day. Only between days 8 and 21 did bunk slick-time affect daily gains (1.5 hours slick resulted in slower (P < 0.06) gains than 6 hours slick while the other slick times were intermediate. Feed intake was not affected (P < 0.70) by bunk slick-time.
It was concluded that lambs can be 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). It is not known how much time is required for a market lamb to consume a full ration of feed, but it is clearly less than 18 hours.
References
Bierman, S.J. and R.H. Pritchard. 1996. Effect of feed delivery management on yearling steer performance. South Dakota Beef Report. South Dakota State Univ. pp. 17-21.
SAS. 1998. SAS/STAT User's Guide (Release 7.1). SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC.