COMMERCIAL CONCENTRATE INCLUSION AND GROWTH PERFORMANCE IN WEANED LAMBS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Abstract

The small ruminant livestock industry in Trinidad and Tobago faces significant challenges in terms of productivity, primarily attributed to poor reproductive strategies, limited genetic diversity, and inadequate veterinary support. However, the most critical factor affecting productivity is the suboptimal feed supply and feeding practices. The available feed resources, primarily natural pasture and crop residues, are characterized by their high fibrous content, substantial lignin levels, and overall low nutritive value. Animals consuming such low-quality feeds tend to utilize their fat reserves to meet nutritional needs, resulting in reduced body fat storage, particularly exacerbated during periods of forage scarcity. Livestock's live weight and nutritional status significantly influence key production efficiency metrics like feed conversion ratio (FCR) and average daily gain (ADG). Dry forages and roughages, with a crude protein (CP) content below 7%, often fail to meet microbial requirements unless supplemented with protein-rich feeds. When utilized in isolation, these poor-quality forages are insufficient even to meet the maintenance needs of livestock. Continued reliance on such low-quality feed sources, including lignified grasses and fibrous crop residues, yields negligible improvements in live weight gain and overall performance, particularly for weaned lambs. Consequently, an urgent need exists to enhance the feeding system for small ruminants, with special emphasis on supplementing grasses with high-energy feeds