Effects of feeding with different roughage ratios on fattening performance in the post-weaning period in lambs

In this study, ad-libitum concentrate feed and 3 different roughage levels (1st group: ad-libitum concentrate feed added to ad-libitum ryegrass; 2nd group: 200 g/day ryegrass added to ad-libitum concentrate feed; 3rd group: ad-libitum concentrate feed-no ryegrass) were used in lambs for 56 days. It was aimed to determine the effects on performance traits such as body weight, daily body weight gain (BWG), feed consumption (g) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Concentrated feed consists of 73% barley, 25% sunflower meal, 1,4% marble powder, 0,1% vitamin and mineral premix and 0,5% salt composition. Italian ryegrass was given as roughage. A total of 30 weaned male lambs, 10 male Merino x Kıvırcık crosses at 55-65 days of age were used in each group. The differences between the groups in mean daily BWG in the 56-day fattening period were significant (P < 0,05), the lambs in 2nd group were 248,2 g, and 41,1 g and 21,4 g more daily BWG than 1st group and 3rd group, respectively. The highest average daily concentrate feed intake was in 3rd group (1158,4 g), followed by 2nd (1122,0 g) and 1st group (1007,7 g), respectively. The 1st group with ad-libitum roughage consumed daily 52,0 g more ryegrass than 2nd group lambs. The average concentrate FCR was found the best in 2nd group (4,537), followed by 1st (4,971) and 3rd group (5,180), respectively. High environmental temperatures were effective due to the summer season and the temperatures were between 27-38 oC during the day and 13-21 oC in the evening. The results of the study showed that the fattening system in which 200 g/day ryegrass is given per lamb with ad-libitum concentrated feed provides the most ideal performance and economic profitability.