Effects of fish meal and sodium bentonite on performance, and ruminal and blood characteristics of kids fed concentrate or forage diets

• Published in: The Professional animal scientist Vol. 14; no. 3; pp. 159 - 164
• Main Authors: Walz, L.S, White, T.W, Fernandez, J.M, Gentry, L.R, Blouin, D.C, Froetschel, M.A, Chapa, A.M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists 01.09.1998
• Subjects: ammonium nitrogen; bentonite; diet; dry matter; feed additives; feed conversion; feed intake; feed supplements; fish meal; grazing; kids; liveweight gain; rumen fluids; volatile fatty acids; zero grazing
• ISSN: 1080-7446; 1525-318X
• DOI: 10.15232/S1080-7446(15)31817-9

Twenty-four wether and 24 doe crossbred kids were used to evaluate the effect of fish meal (FM) and sodium bentonite (NaB) on growth, and ruminal and blood metabolites. Six treatments were: four isonitrogenous (13.5% CP) diets (0% FM and 0% NaB; 0% FM and 0.75% NaB; 3% FM and 0% NaB; or 3% FM and 0.75% NaB) fed to confined kids, and the 0% FM and 0% NaB or 3% FM and 0% NaB diets fed to grazing kids as supplement. Diets were based on corn, soybean meal, and cottonseed hulls. Data were analyzed as two independent 2 × 2 factorial arrangements. The first analysis compared the four diets fed in confinement. The second analysis compared 0 or 3% FM supplemented diets fed in confinement to the same diets fed as supplements to grazing kids. Grazing kids were allowed 8 h daily grazing time on pasture. After grazing, kids were penned individually and allowed access to their respective supplements for 1 h. A FM × NaB interaction ( P <0.02) occurred for average daily gain (ADG) where FM improved ADG in the absence of NaB but not in the presence of NaB. There were similar trends noted for DMI and gain per feed (g/kg DMI). Growth rates of confined and grazed kids were similar and both were improved ( P <0.01) by including FM in the supplement. Ruminal pH was increased and total VFA decreased by feeding FM to confined kids ( P <0.01). Kids that were supplemented after grazing had higher ruminal pH, acetate, isobutyrate, butyrate, and isovalerate and lower propionate levels than kids in confinement. Dietary FM had no effect on blood metabolites of confined or grazed kids. This research suggests that replacing a portion of dietary soybean meal protein with fish meal protein in the absence of NaB improves the growth rate of kids. Grazing kids that are properly supplemented gain as fast on 40% less feed as kids fed complete diets in confinement. Kids Fish Meal Bentonite Forage