Effects of Restriction and Feeding on Performance in Weaner Lambs

Abstract

Tlle effect of refeeding after mild restrictloiz on the growtlz of weaizer ewe lambs was sttidied. While tlze control
aizzrnals in Group A ruere plot restricted bzitfed coiztiiiuotlsly, Grotrps B and C aninzals were restricted for 23 and 35
days and refeii for 47 and 35 days respectively. Altlzol~gllt lze rirean total feed intake u~ahsi glzer (P < 0.05) in tlze
corztrol(33.793 kg) zulzeiz conzpared with tlzose on restriction (B - 24.21Okg and C - 27.227kg); its nleaizfied intnke
(482,76gwI/~lny)zo ns szglzificantly lozuer (P < 0.05) tllnn tlze group C anlrrzals (777.9gm/day) tlzat toere fed on
alternate days. Tlze rizean body weiglzf gain (B - 82.57gm and C - 88.14gnz) ofnizinlals in groups B nnri C irizdcr
restriction weve ~zon-sig~zifj:caizt1lo?z/i )er by 25.49% and 9.79% respectively tlzan tlzose n~ziirralfse d contiiiuousl!/.
Also, tlze restricted and refid aiziirznls were observed to be rnore efficient (P < 0.05) in terms offccd conversion tllnn
tllu coiltrol group. It is tlzerefore conclzrded that ad libitunc feeiliizg nray be zuastefirl t4nder certain lznrsll coizditions.