The Effect Of Choice Feeding On Welfare And Behaviour Of Feedlot Lambs
Two trials took place at the University of Melbourne's Dookie Campus Animal Research Facility to determine if the behaviour and welfare of lambs would be improved when they were offered a choice of feeds. Trial 1, held in small 1ha paddocks with feed being offered ad lib. out of trough feeders, was three groups of 30 lambs offered different pelleted feeds, pellet type A (high protein content), B (low protein content) and AB (a free choice of both pellets). Trial 2, the automatic feeder trial, also had three groups (n=20) with treatments A, B and AB offered ad lib. Individual intake was measured by the automatic feeder system. Weight and faecal scores were recorded weekly and behaviour (time spent standing, eating pellets and roughage, feeding bouts, displacement) were recorded during weeks 2, 6 and 7 by instantaneous scan sampling at 10 minute intervals.
Shown below is footage taken from Trial 2, the automatic feeder trial, to assess lamb behaviour. The footage is of 15 minute segments sped up and taken at different time periods throughout the day.
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The results show that the lambs in treatment AB had fewer displacements from the feeder (A=728, B=799, AB=523, P<0.001) and a decreased number of faecal scores that could represent the beginning of acidosis (A=16, B=13, AB=10, P=0.114). Lambs in the paddock trial (48.32%) stood for less than the automatic feeder trial (55.94%, P<0.001) but ate less roughage (P<0.001) compared to lambs in the automatic feeder trial. It can be concluded that when lambs are offered a choice of feeds they select their diet to suit their requirements, health and welfare given the situation they are in. The paddock trial feed presentation in a trough feeder is the better was to offer feed to improve the welfare of lambs in a feedlot situation.