Feed intake, liveweight gain and carcass traits of lambs offered pelleted annual pasture hay supplemented with flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) flakes or algae (Schizochytrium sp.)
V. F. Burnett A E , J. L. Jacobs B , S. Norng C and E. N. Ponnampalam DA Agriculture Research and Development, Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, 124 Chiltern Valley Road, Rutherglen, Vic. 3685, Australia.
B Agriculture Research and Development, Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, 1301 Hazeldean Road, Ellinbank, Vic. 3821, Australia.
C Agriculture Research and Development, Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, 32 Lincoln Square North, Carlton, Vic. 3053, Australia.
D Agriculture Research and Development, Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, 475–485 Mickleham Road, Attwood, Vic. 3049, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: viv.burnett@ecodev.vic.gov.au
Animal Production Science 57(5) 877-883 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN15230
Submitted: 2 May 2014 Accepted: 29 January 2016 Published: 25 May 2016
Abstract
In southern Australia, pastures comprised of annual ryegrass may not meet the nutritional requirements of fast-growing (>250 g/day) lambs in summer–autumn (December–May). An animal house experiment was conducted from March to July 2010 to investigate the use of flaxseed and algae as two potential supplements to improve feed intake, liveweight gain and carcass traits in lambs. One hundred and twenty lambs (in two groups of 60) were fed one of four diets, pelleted annual pasture hay (subterranean clover and annual ryegrass) (T1); pelleted annual pasture hay + flaxseed flakes (T2); pelleted annual pasture hay + algae supplement (T3); pelleted annual pasture hay + flaxseed flakes + algae supplement (T4). All diets were provided on an ad libitum basis with individual feed intake measured daily and liveweight recorded weekly. Lambs offered the flaxseed flakes (T2) treatment grew faster (P < 0.05), had heavier (P < 0.05) carcass weights and greater (P < 0.05) GR fat depth (total tissue depth at 11th/12th rib, 110 mm away from midline) than lambs offered the T1 diet. Lambs offered algae supplement (T3) had lower dry matter intake but growth rate and carcass weight were not affected compared with lambs offered the T1 diet. Lambs offered both flaxseed flakes and algae supplement (T4) had greater (P < 0.05) GR fat than lambs offered the T1 diet. This experiment provides evidence that supplementing growing lambs with flaxseed flakes can increase dry matter intake, growth rate and GR fat depth. In contrast, supplementing with an algae supplement reduced dry matter intake but growth rate and carcass weight were similar to the control treatment.
Additional keywords: growth rate, lamb finishing, lamb growth.
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