Productive and reproductive performance of ram-lambs fed with corn and potatoes snacks: preliminary results

Abstract

Residual products from the food industry, such as snack production, can be used to feed animals. However, the impact of snack incorporation in rations on sheep productive performance has received little attention.  The objective of the present research was to evaluate the effect of adding snacks to the hair lambs ratio on its productive performance. The experimental units (n=20) were assigned to one of two treatments: Snacks and Control. Lams in the Snack group were fed for 99 days, with a ratio containing 15% snacks, substituting 9 and 6% of wheat grain and soy meal. In addition, two subgroups were formed within each experimental group: No-minerals and Zinc. The animals in the Zinc group were supplemented with zinc oxide. The response variables were initial live body weight, terminal live body weight, scrotal circumference, carcass weight, testicular weight, scrotal weight, and sperm concertation. Feeding snacks and supplementing zinc to hair lambs did not affect (p≥0.05) any of the evaluated response variables (24.62±2.18 vs 25.01±2.18 kg; 51.79±3.76 vs 52.71±3.76 kg; 24.23±1.58 vs 24.72±1.58 cm; 26.19±3.76 vs 25.86±3.76 kg; 333.00±34.52 vs 285.70±34.52 g; 113.37±12.744 vs 130.22±12.744 g; 573.33±63.59 vs   494.83±55.85 esperms × 10⁶ mL^-1 for initial live body weight, terminal live body weight, scrotal circumference, carcass weight, testicular weight, scrotal weight, and sperm concertation in Snack and Control groups, respectively). In conclusion, adding 15% of snacks to diet and zinc supplementation to hair lambs does not affect initial live body weight, terminal live body weight, scrotal circumference, carcass weight, testicular weight, scrotal weight, and sperm concentration.