ISSUE FOCUS FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE November 2023 33 “For successful lamb feed lotting, it is essential to have a basic understanding of the lamb's digestive system. A major issue is that the lamb's rumen is designed to act as a fermentation vat in which roughage (grass, straw, etc.) is broken down by microbes into volatile fatty acids, ammonia, and methane. This system benefits both the lamb and the microbes, as the lamb does not possess the enzymes capable of breaking down the roughage.” Lamb production plays an important role in the global food system and is a popular meat choice in many countries. China is the top producer of lamb meat, followed by Australia, New Zealand, Turkey, Algeria, and the United Kingdom. Lamb meat production systems vary from extensive to intensive, impacting performance and meat characteristics. Lamb production through feedlot finishing is one of the main procedures to shorten the slaughtering age and ensure high-quality prime cuts. Feed costs for livestock are a substantial portion of production costs and can account for more than 63% of the total production costs in sheep (Neary, 1997; Raineri et al., 2015). It is unlikely that feed costs will decrease soon due to increased competition for feed resources by energy industries and a growing human population. Improving feed efficiency is becoming more critical as feed costs continue to rise. In recent years, there has also been an increasing concern about the environmental impact of ruminants due to their contributions to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. FEEDING THE FEEDLOT LAMB For successful lamb feed lotting, it is essential to have a basic understanding of the lamb's digestive system. A major issue is that the lamb's rumen is designed to act as a fermentation vat in which roughage (grass, straw, etc.) is broken down by microbes into volatile fatty acids, ammonia, and methane. This system benefits both the lamb and the microbes, as the lamb does not possess the enzymes capable of breaking down the roughage. The microbes get to live in an ideal environment for them and help in roughage utilization. Lambs need a high-energy and protein diet to proliferate. Cereal grains are usually the cheapest energy source and also supply some protein. Grains generally comprise between 65% and 85% of the finishing diet. Regardless of equipment, there are typically two strategies for feeding grain. One is free-choice feedPHYTOGENICS: A TOOL TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY IN LAMB FEEDLOTS Gonçalo Martins EMEA Technical Services Lead Ruminants Delacon™, Cargill
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