Diet selection by Awassi lambs fed individually in a cafeteria feeding system

Abstract

This study was designed to monitor Awassi lambs in a cafeteria feeding system with respect to diet selection and growth in comparison to conventional feeding. Sixteen, 3-month-old male lambs were used and kept individually for 70 days. The main effect was the feeding system (cafeteria and control or conventional). Cafeteria lambs (n = 8) were offered the main ingredients (barley, cotton seed meal (CSM), wheat bran and alfalfa straw), while control animals (n = 8) were fed a single diet containing 10.3 MJ ME, 161 g crude protein, 95 g crude fiber kg(-1) with the same ingredients. Cafeteria animals preferred a lower caloric (10.1 MJ ME kg(-1)), but a higher nitrogenous (178 g CP kg(-1)) and fibrous (98 g CIF kg(-1)) diet than control animals (P0.05). Cafeteria lambs can eat a maximal amount of 446 g CSM or 560 g barley kg(-1) according to their stage of growth or fattening. Lambs were different with respect to diet selection patterns. In conclusion, lambs can consume a diet matching their presumed nutritional requirements from feed ingredients and determine their priorities for protein and energy in response to growth and fattening without changing their performance in comparison to single-fed lambs. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.