Abstract

ROJAS, Héctor; CORONADO, Luís  and  HURTADO, Ernesto. Evaluation of proteins supplementation during the post weaning growth in grazing lambs. Zootecnia Trop. [online]. 2005, vol.23, n.3, pp.311-318. ISSN 0798-7269.

In order to evaluate different proteins sources during the period of growth of crossbred lambs (West African x Bergamasca), of approximately 90 days of born in post weaning stage with an average of weight ±13 kg, grazing Brachiaria humidicola grass. There was in use a with a factorial arrangement of treatments (2x3) on a complete random design; being the factors: sex (males and females) and diet (D_A = 220 g foliage of matarratón + 75 g mandioca + 5 g commercial mineral; D_B = 220 g grave of quail + 75 g mandioca + 5 g commercial mineral, and D_C = 300 g concentrated commercial food), with six animals for treatment. Dependent variables measured were: Food consumption, weight gain, and zoometric characteristics (dorsal length, raised to the cross, and thorax perimeter). An analysis of variance was performed by least squares method. The results indicated that the interaction diet by sex influenced the food consumption (P<0.01) and weight gain (P<0.05), being the major consumption and weight gain for lambs in the D_C treatment. The zoometric characteristics were affected by the sex (dorsal length and thorax perimeter), being the males with larger size. It was concluded that the commercial concentrate food was superior than the protein supplementation with raw materials.

Keywords : feed consumption; lamb; growth; weight gain.