Performance of rearing female hoggets under different feeding strategies

The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of Texel × Ile de France female hoggets on pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke) pastures fed supplementation with cassava meal or corn gluten. It was used a completely randomized experimental design, with three treatments (feed strategies) and two area replications. Feed strategies consisted of supplementation of the pastures with cassava meal or corn gluten in comparison to exclusive pasture. Supplements were given daily at 9:00 a.m. at quantity of 1% of the body weight (BW). The lambs on corn gluten supplementation presented greater daily weight gain and greater per area weight gain. Use of supplementation did not permit to increase pasture stocking rate, however. In vitro digestibility and chemical composition of the harvested forage was similar (crude protein, neutral detergent fiber) among groups. At the end of the experiment, all feed strategies were efficient in promoting weight greater than 60% of the mature weight, showing that the lambs are able for mating. Body condition score (BCS) of lambs under cassava meal supplementation was 3.0 whereas body composition score of the other lambs was 2.8. Exclusive use of pearl millet can provide dry matter requirement of the lambs