Harper Adams University 5 week lamb finishing trial

The trial compared the effect of Panatec Rumen Proof to a market leading live yeast and a control group on feed intake, growth and feed conversion efficiency in 48 Lleyn whether lambs. The trial was conducted in the Animal Production, Welfare and Veterinary Sciences department at Harper Adams University in October & November of 2019.

The lambs were brought to the until and given a 10-day acclimatisation period and fed haylage before being penned individually on sawdust. They were offered one of three compound feeds, all of the same formulation (16% crude protein), the control diet with no additive, or the same feed with either Rumen Proof or a market leading live yeast added. All lambs had ad-lib access to chopped straw and water. The level of compound feed was gradually increased from 0.2kg/day over a 10-day period until lambs were eating ad-lib.

Feed intake (compound feed and straw) was measured weekly. Lambs were weighed on the same day each week and blood samples were taken from a representative number of lambs at 0, 2 and 4 weeks into the trial.