The comparative digestibility and feeding efficiency of pelleted and nonpelleted rations for feeder lambs

LTTFRATIJRF CTTFD 18 IOTROLOCTIOS Conn»rclal lawk feeders in Kansas and elBetf.erehave shewn an Increased interest in completely pelleted rations in recent ymrs.Experimental teats at ftnsss Stats College and other experimental stations have shorn renerally that pelleted rations produce greater pains than similar but unpelleted rations.The pounds of feed required to produce a pound of gain have also usually been less when the pelleted rations have b**a fed.In most of the experimental work previously reported, the experimental lambs were r.rovsp fed with no duplication or replication of lots} consequently the efficiency of feed utilisation in the feed lot could not bo cornered statistically.In order to allow statistical analyses of feed utilization in this study, lambs were individually fed the (different rations.The rations were also fed to groups of lambs so that the performance of individual and pqpoup fed lasts could be compared.Results of digestion trials and balance studies with lambs fod complete- ly pelleted rations and similar but unpelleted rations were not available in the literature.Such tests, included in these studies should provide a clear* er understanding of some of the basic problems in the utilisation of pelleted and unpelleted feeds* 8WXIW OF IJTMtATTTaK Studies of pelleted and partially pelleted rations for sheep have received an increasing amount of attention at experimental stations d'.iring the past five years.The most extensive work concerning pelleting was started at New Mexico A and | in 1950.Keale (1953) reported that in the Rio GrandeValley only the first and fifth cuttings of alfalfa were of high quality.