Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #78582
Title: COMPARISON OF KENAF AND ALFALFA AS A PROTEIN SUPPLEMENT FOR LAMBS CONSUMINGEITHER FESCUE OR BERMUDAGRASS HAY

Author
item SHOBERT, A - OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY
item FITCH, G - OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY
item Phillips, William

Submitted to: American Society of Animal Science Southern Section Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/1/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Based on chemical composition, Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) has the potential to replace Alfalfa in ruminant diets. The objective of this experiment was to compare Kenaf to Alfalfa as a protein supplement for lambs. Thirty-two lambs, average weight 30.5 kg, were randomly assigned to individual pens, blocked by sex and weight, and randomly assigned within block to one of four treatments arranged in a 2 X 2 factorial. The main factors were two sources of hay, Bermudagrass and Fescue, and two supplemental pellets, Alfalfa and Kenaf. The supplemental pellets were fed once daily at the rate of 185 g DM/hd, but lambs had ad libitum access to ground hay. Hay intake was determined each week during the 56-d experiment. Lambs were weighed on day 0, 28 and 56 following a 16-h fast without water. Samples of hay and supplement were taken weekly and dried in a forced air oven for 72 h to determine DM content. Data were analyzed as a Completely Randomized Block design by GLM procedures. Lambs fed Fescue hay consumed more (P<.01) DM than lambs fed Bermudagrass hay (5358 g/d vs 4134 g/d). Lambs fed Fescue hay gained more (P<.01) weight during the first 4 weeks of the experiment (4.5 kg vs 2.4 kg) and over the entire 8-week experiment (6.7 kg vs 4.0 kg) than lambs fed Bermudagrass hay. Both supplements were completely consumed within 15 minutes of feeding and supplement source had no affect on body weight changes. Kenaf, harvested as a hay and milled into a pellet, can replace Alfalfa pellets as a protein supplement to lambs fed either Fescue or Bermudagrass hay.