Abstract
Two feeding trials were conducted with western lambs to evaluate several modifications of a pelleted complete mixed ration consisting of ground corn cobs, 39.5; dehydrated alfalfa meal, 20; ground yellow corn, 32; soybean oil meal, 7; iodized salt, 0.5; steamed bonemeal, 1.0; and vitamin A. A significant decrease in gain was obtained for incorporating 7.5% of stabilized yellow grease alone (P<0.01) or in combination with 10% of cane sugar (P<0.05) in place of corn, or replacement of soybean meal with a protein equivalent of dried skimmilk or menhaden fish meal (P<0.05). Lambs whose pellets contained a ratio of 60% roughage to 40% concentrate grew more rapidly (P<0.01) than those whose ratio was 40% roughage to 60% concentrate. Oat mill feed, soybean mill feed and sun cured alfalfa meal were not so valuable as principal sources of roughage (P<0.05) as ground corn cobs, sugar cane bagasse or cottonseed hulls. Even though lambs fed the 40% roughage pellet gained less rapidly (P<0.05), the dressing percent was greater (50.3% for 60% roughage lots vs. 52.1% for 40% roughage lots) than for the more rapid-gaining lambs fed the 60% roughage pellet. Copyright © . .