Effects of milk replacer and different starter diets on growth, feed intake and rumen development in suckling lambs

An experiment was carried out to compare the effects of ewe milk with commercial milk replacer and starter dirt with different levels of concentrate on the growth, feed intake and rumen development of suckling lambs. Thirty Dalagh breed male lambs were separated from their mothers at 3±1 days of age divided into 6 groups (5 lambs per treatment) and were fed with 6 treatments for 90 days age. Treatment consisted of 2 fluid feed (ewe milk and milk replacer) and 3 starter diets (diet 1: 100% concentrate, 2: 67% concentrate and 33% alfalfa hay, 3: 33% concentrate and 67% alfalfa hay). Lambs were fed ewe milk or milk replacer in 2 per day and starter diet 3 per day and their intake were measured. Data were analyzed as a randomized completely blocks design according to 2×3 factorial method. The end of experiment 18 lambs (3 per treatment) were slaughtered, stomach harvested, emptied, washed with water and rumen development characteristics were measured. Data for growth, feed intake, rumen development parameters were analyzed as a randomized completely block according to 2*3 factorial design. Results showed the average of daily weight gain (ADG), dry matter intake, feed efficiency, ratio rumen weight to stomach weight (percent) and rumen wall thickness (RWT) in lambs fed ewe milk and milk replacer did not show significant differences, but means of papillae length (PL), papillae width (PW) and papillae density (PC), were differences statically significant and higher on lambs fed ewe milk (P<0.01). Feeding starter diets affected on ADG (P<0.05), PL, PW, RWT and PC (P<0.01) and higher on lambs fed starter diet with 100% concentrate. This experiment demonstrated that lambs could be reared with milk replacer, without any problem on the growth, feed intake and rumen development. Feeding starter diet with high levels of concentrate on suckling lambs resulted in high growth and good rumen development.