Weaned lambs from different litter size submitted to contrasting feeding systems on tropical pastures

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the performance and ingestive behavior of singleton and twin lambs after weaning under different feeding systems on tropical pasture. Studies were carried out over three years with castrated and weaned males of Texel x Corriedale lambs. In the first year, the treatments were: grass; grass and supplementation with concentrate (1.5% or 2.5% of live weight); grass and controlled legume grazing. In the second and third years, the treatments were: either grass or legume; mixed, this is, contiguous area of both grass and legume. On tropical pasture system, twin lambs fed with high levels of concentrate can gain more live weight than singletons, showing a compensatory growth and reaching the singletons live weight. Sheep litter size does not affect weaned lambs’ grazing behaviour under different feeding systems on tropical grassland. The use of concentrate supplementation changes lambs’ ingestive behavior by reducing grazing time and increasing idling time. Pigeon pea, as a monoculture or associated with grass, can be an important source of nutrients for lambs; however, it is not sufficient to ensure the same performance of twin and singleton lambs.