Influencia de la suplementación proteica sobre el crecimiento de corderos post destete (Effect of protein suplementation on growth of post-weaning lambs)

In order to evaluate the effect of the protein supplementation on growth performance of lambs under an intensive feeding system, a trial was conducted at Instituto de Investigaciones Zootécnicas.. located in Maracay, Aragua state. Venezuela. Eighteen West African ma1e lambs. averaging 13.6 kg of weight, were assigned in a complete randomized design to three experimental treatments: T1 ad libitum fresh forage (Control); T2: ad libitum fresh forage + 254 g/day ( 43g crude protein) of concentrate and T3: ad libitum fresh forage + 376 g/day (64 9 crude protein) of concentrate. Concentrate feed was made up of 60% corn meal, 29% cotton meal, 10% molasses. and 2% salt minerals. It contained 17% crude protein and 73% Total Digestible Nutrients. Fresh forage was millo (Sorghum vulgare) containing 5,43% crude protein. Daily dry matter intake were 606.9,823 and 972 g/animal for T1.T2 and T3, respectively. Daily weight gain were 87.49, 133.83 and 146.46 g/animal for T1.T2 and T3; being significantly higher (P<0.05) for T2 and T3. Feed efficiency due to concentrate consumption was 1.88 and 2.57 forT2 and T3, respectively. In the same order, benefit-cost relation was 3.49 and 2.57. Results indicate a better growth performance ofthose lambs supplemented with 254 g/day of concentrate (43 g/d crude protein)