The Value of Fortified Creep Rations for Single and Twin Suckling Lambs

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Abstract
Two trials are summarized in which suckling lambs in drylot with their mothers had access to creep pellets of differing composition. In the first trial, dehydrated alfalfa meal was incorporated in the creep pellets for single lambs at levels of 0, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, or 98%. Level of alfalfa had no effect on growth rate, nor on consumption of creep pellets. Also, two lots of twin lambs had access to “super” pellets fortified with sugar, B-vitamins, vitamins A, D, E, and C, an antibiotic, iron, copper and manganese. The pellets for one lot had 40% of the corn replaced with dehydrated alfalfa meal whereas pellets for the second lot contained no dehydrated alfalfa meal. Level of alfalfa meal had no significant effect on growth rate or pellet consumption. In the second trial, single lambs had access to creep pellets containing 0, 40%, or 98% dehydrated alfalfa meal, or “super” pellets containing 40% dehydrated alfalfa meal. Single lambs which consumed pellets containing no dehydrated alfalfa meal, or those containing, the “super” ration gained at the same rate (0.84 lb. vs. 0.83 lb. per day), and significantly more than those consuming pellets containing either 40% (0.77 lb. per day) or 98% dehydrated alfalfa (0.73 lb. per day). In the second trial twin lambs fed “super” pellets gained more than those fed pellets not containing the extra ingredients of the “super” pellets. Copyright © . .

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