Effect of sodium bicarbonate supplementation and 2 different ambient temperatures on growth performance and carcass characteristics of lambs fed concentrate diets

Authors : Demba Boi JALLOW, Liang Chou HSIA

Pages : 557-563

Doi:10.3906/vet-1402-90

View : 10 | Download : 5

Publication Date : 0000-00-00

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Twenty male Barbados lambs insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(3 months old); were used to evaluate the effects of sodium bicarbonate insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(NaHCO3); supplementation on growth performance and carcass characteristics of lambs fed concentrate diets in controlled-environment chambers set at 20 °C and 30 °C. In the 35-week-long growth trial, the animals were divided into 4 groups insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n = 5); and fed 2 dietary treatments: a basal diet insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(35:65 roughage and concentrate); or a basal diet supplemented with 4% NaHCO3. Twelve lambs randomly selected from this trial were arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial design for a 10-day-long slaughter and carcass evaluation experiment. Lambs in the 20 °C ambient temperature group had higher insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P < 0.001); feed intake insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(FI, g day-1); and body weights insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P < 0.01); than those of the other group. The NaHCO3-supplemented group had higher insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P < 0.05); FI g day-1 and average daily gain insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(ADG, kg-1); insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P < 0.01); than the other group. The 30 °C ambient temperature affected half carcass weights, body lengths, and bone lengths insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P < 0.05, P < 0.01, and P < 0.01, respectively);. In conclusion, incorporation of NaHCO3 to concentrate diets at a 20 °C ambient temperature increased FI g day-1 and ADG kg-1, resulting in improved growth performance of the lambs.
Keywords : Temperature, sodium bicarbonate, growth performance, lambs