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Feed Intake Variation in Crossbred Lambs Supplemented with Spirulina
Genetically divergent prime lambs were supplemented with Spirulina and had ad libitum access to Lucerne hay in a nine-week feeding trial. The main objective was to model residual feed intake, liveweight gain, standardised daily feed intake (SDFI), feed conversion ratio and daily feed intake (DFI) and test for sire breed and sex variations. Level of Spirulina supplementation and sex were found to have no independent effects on lamb feed intake (P>0.05). However, DFI and SDFI in Merino sired lambs were lower than in their crossbred counterparts (P<0.023). Merino ewe lambs consumed more Lucerne hay than wethers (P<0.05). These findings could prove useful when balancing feed resources to match Spirulina supplementation levels and lamb breeding management goals.
Keywords:
Arthrospira platensis
Protein-supplementation
Sheep
