title: Total mixed ration pellets for light fattening lambs: effects on animal health.
abstract: Fifty male Merino lambs (6 to 8 weeks, 14.1 kg; n=10 per group) were used to study the effect of feeding system: barley straw in long form and concentrate pellets in separate troughs (Control), ad libitum alfalfa supplemented with concentrate in separate troughs (Alfalfa) or including various levels of ground barley straw in concentrate pellets (B05, B15 and B25 for 50, 150 and 250 g barley straw/kg), on rumen characteristics, acid-base status, blood cell counts and lymphocyte stimulation. Alfalfa lambs had the heaviest digestive tract contents, highest rumen pH values, lowest volatile fatty acid concentration, highest papillae counts and best mucosa colour and the greatest blood pCO2 values, lowest sodium and chloride and highest potassium concentrations (P<0.05). Including ground barley straw in the concentrate pellet or providing straw in long form separately from the concentrate reduces rumen pH and darkens ruminal mucosa as compared with alfalfa-fed lambs, thus affecting acid-base status.
authors.affiliation: 1Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-Universidad de León),E-24346 Grulleros,León,Spain.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.affiliation: 1Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-Universidad de León),E-24346 Grulleros,León,Spain.
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Giráldez
authors.affiliation: 1Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-Universidad de León),E-24346 Grulleros,León,Spain.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Prieto
authors.affiliation: 1Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-Universidad de León),E-24346 Grulleros,León,Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Benavides
authors.affiliation: 2Moredun Research Institute,Bush Loan,Penicuik,Midlothian,Scotland EH26 0PZ,UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wattegedera
authors.affiliation: 1Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-Universidad de León),E-24346 Grulleros,León,Spain.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Morán
authors.affiliation: 1Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-Universidad de León),E-24346 Grulleros,León,Spain.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Andrés
authors.affiliation: 1Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-Universidad de León),E-24346 Grulleros,León,Spain.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bodas
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis*; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000032:analysis; D005285:Fermentation; D005511:Food Handling / Q000379:methods*; D005766:Gastrointestinal Contents / Q000737:chemistry; D001467:Hordeum; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D000455:Medicago sativa; D012417:Rumen / Q000502:physiology; D012756:Sheep / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D034561:Sheep, Domestic
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile
keywords: acidosis; concentrate; haematology; rumen; sheep