Trial Benefit of RumenWorks Grain Enhancer Concentrate with Probiotic in grain and silage based Diets
Context
In recent years, producers have been seeing the value and profit in feeding sheep to meet market demands, however feeding ingredients other than cereals grains and protein meals isn’t overly common practice in Australia. Market signals and demand for feeding sheep shows the need for some local data to support the feeding of complete and balanced rations to sheep.
Objective
To demonstrate a benefit in feeding silage, in a grain and silage based diet using RumenWorks Grain Enhancer Concentrate for Sheep.
Results
The treatment group performed better than control animals. The addition RumenWorks Sheep Grain Assist Pellet plus Probiotics allowed lambs to progress more consistently when ration changes became more challenging, minimizing the risk of lost performance and set-back.
Materials and Methods
| Location | University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia |
|---|---|
| Year | 2019 |
| Duration | 56 days with a 14-day adaptation period |
| Animals | 36 second-cross terminal lambs from a commercial source |
| Starting weight | 32 kg |
Feeding Schedule & Rations
| Timepoint (days) | Component (w/w) |
|---|---|
| -14 to -1 | 100% silage (adaptation) |
| 0–7 | 25% whole oats + 26% barley grain + 50% silage |
| 8–10 | 50% barley grain + 50% silage |
| 11–25 | 75% barley grain + 25% silage |
| 26–27 | 80% barley grain + 20% silage |
| 28–29 | 85% barley grain + 15% silage |
| 30–56 | 90% barley grain + 10% silage |
Treatments
- Silage + grain
- Silage + grain + mineral pellet + Levucell SC (3 × 109 cfu/head/day)
Measured Parameters
- Liveweight
- Daily feed intake
- Faecal consistency
- Rumen pH
Duration of Study: 71 Days
| Day | Trial activity |
|---|---|
| -14 | Commenced adaptation period |
| 0 | Start of trial |
| 1 | Faecal scoring |
| 8 | Ration set-up 1 |
| 11 | Ration set-up 2 and pH sample |
| 14 | Weighed and faecal scoring |
| 21 | Weighed |
| 26 | Ration set-up 3 |
| 27 | Ration set-up 4 |
| 28 | Ration set-up 5 and weighed |
| 35 | Weighed |
| 42 | pH sample, faecal scoring and weighing |
| 49 | Weighed |
| 56 | pH sample, faecal scoring and weighing |
Liveweight Group Average
Average Daily Gain significantly improved compared to the untreated group (p<0.05).
ADG
RumenWorks Sheep Grain Assist pellet with probiotic treated lambs showed improved homogeneity and performance compared to the control group, practically this means having more animals reach the target weight in the given time frame.
Weight at Day 56
Feed conversion ratios between the treated group were 34–35% more efficient relative to the untreated group (RumenWorks Sheep Grain Assist Pellet plus Probiotic 5.79:1 vs control 8.78:1 (p<0.05)). Again the RumenWorks Sheep Grain Assist supplemented lambs showed less variation.
Feed Conversion Ratio
Rumen pH indicated no recorded incidences of acidosis. Basing lamb rations on quality silage can assist in managing rumen function without compromising performance. RumenWorks Sheep Grain Assist fed lambs showed a more stable rumen pH pre and post feed which is consistent with other studies.
| Time Point | Control | RumenWorks Grain Assist + Probiotic |
|---|---|---|
| Day 11 Pre-Feed | 6.5 | 6.3 |
| Day 11 Post-Feed | 5.8 | 6.2 |
| Difference | -0.7 | -0.2 |
| Day 56 Pre-Feed | 7.5 | 7.2 |
| Day 56 Post-Feed | 6.7 | 6.3 |
| Difference | -1.1 | -0.9 |
- Lambs were fed ad libitum.
- Sampling points were not aligned with ration changes.
Conclusion
Quality silage can play a positive role in growing out commercial lambs, it provides lambs with effective fibre and assists in managing rumen function. Lambs should be supplemented with RumenWorks Grain Assist Pellet to better enhance the efficiency of gain and overall lamb performance. The addition of RumenWorks Grain Assist Pellet to a grain/silage based diets helps to minimize within group variation, encourages a more even group and consistent performance.