DDC Tech Day | The Impact of Feed Flavoring Agents on Lamb Grower Feed Intake and Growth Performance

Abstract: This experiment aimed to investigate the effects of different feed flavorants on the feed intake and growth performance of lambs during the creep-feeding period. A single-factor experimental design was employed, dividing 72 first-generation Dorper × Han crossbred newborn lambs (all twins) derived from 36 ewes into six groups (with three replicates each; each replicate consisting of four lambs born to two ewes). The lambs were randomly assigned to one of six treatments: A—control; B—150 g/t of a compound sweetener; C—500 g/t of an apple-banana flavorant; D—500 g/t of a sow-milk flavorant; E—500 g/t of a pure milk flavorant; and F—150 g/t of sweetener plus 500 g/t of pure milk flavorant—administered from day 8 to day 28. The results showed that, compared to the control group, the ADFI (average daily feed intake) in all flavorant groups increased significantly by 49.91%, 135.46%, 69.81%, 29.72%, and 81.62% at days 8–28, respectively. Notably, lambs in Group C exhibited significantly higher feeding time and longer feeding durations during both the 8:00–16:00 and 16:00–24:00 periods compared to Group A (p < 0.01), with a trend toward higher intake also observed during the 0:00–8:00 period (p = 0.08). Additionally, at 28 days of age, body weights in Groups B, C, D, E, and F were 3.5%, 12.8%, 6.5%, 4.2%, and 7.3% higher than those in the control group, respectively. Correspondingly, the average daily gain (ADG) from day 1 to day 28 was improved by 7.8%, 25.9%, 13.9%, 10.6%, and 15.6% in Groups B, C, D, E, and F, respectively, relative to the control. In conclusion, all five combined flavorants added to the creep feed during days 8–28 significantly enhanced both feed intake and growth performance in Dorper × Han crossbred lambs. Among these, the apple-banana flavorant demonstrated the most effective improvement, followed closely by the compound sweetener and the sow-milk flavorant.

　　This study investigated the effects of varying levels of apple-banana flavoring agents on lamb feed intake and growth performance. A single-factor experimental design was employed, dividing 24 newborn Xiaoweihan lambs (all twins) born to 12 ewes into four groups (each with three replicates; one replicate consisting of two lambs from the same ewe). The treatments included a control group (G) and three groups supplemented with different amounts of apple-banana flavoring agent (H—250 g/t, I—500 g/t, J—750 g/t), with lambs being fed from day 8 to day 28. The results showed that, during days 8–28, the average daily feed intake (ADFI) in the three treatment groups supplemented with apple-banana flavoring agents increased by 10.4%, 64.4%, and 58.6%, respectively, compared to the control group. Additionally, lambs in groups I and J exhibited significantly longer feeding durations across all time periods, markedly higher than those in groups G and H (p < 0.01). At 21 and 28 days of age, there were no significant differences in average body weight between groups I and J; however, both groups showed significantly higher body weights than groups G and H (p < 0.01). Over the entire 1–28-day period, the average daily gain (ADG) was comparable among groups I, J, and H, yet all three treatment groups demonstrated significantly greater ADG than group G and group H (p < 0.01). Notably, group H also exhibited significantly higher ADG than group G (p < 0.01). In conclusion, adding 250 g/t, 500 g/t, or 750 g/t of apple-banana flavoring agent to the supplementary feed of Xiaoweihan lambs from day 8 to day 28 effectively enhanced both feed intake and growth performance. Among these levels, 500 g/t appeared to be the optimal dosage for maximizing these benefits.

　　 Keywords : Feed Flavoring Agents; Lambs; Production Performance; Feed Intake; Feeding Behavior

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