Effect of Heat-Processed Flaked Corn on Growth of Lambs

Abstract

In three trials, the first of which involves six replications, the second two replications and the third three replications, the effect of feeding either shelled corn or heat-processed flaked corn in conjunction with hay was studied with growing lambs. Heat-processed flaked corn adversely affected grain consumption to some degree in all three trials. In the first trial grain consumption was sufficiently depressed during the entire trial to result in significantly slower gains. In the second trial lambs fed flaked corn required a considerably longer time to eat their grain, and the amount of shelled corn offered to the control lambs was limited to the amount of flaked corn that the other lambs would consume daily. This limitation of shelled corn consumption resulted in approximately equal weight gains. In the third trial lower consumption of flaked corn was a problem during the first 2 to 3 weeks. Average weight gain was essentially the same for lambs on both treatments. Efficiency of feed utilization in trials 2 and 3 was slightly higher with the flaked corn rations. However, this improvement in feed utilization accompanied by no increase in rate of gain is not of sufficient magnitude to compensate for the increased costs in ration preparation. Copyright © 1965. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1965 by American Society of Animal Science