Use of mineral supplementation with monensin sodium in Pelibuey female lambs during the postweaning growth

Abstract

Pelibuey lambs have a postweaning weight gain of less than 80 g/d when they are feeding on grazing pastures. Taking this into consideration, it is important to study several additives that could optimize the lambs’ growth. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the mineral supplementation with monensin on postweaning performance of the Pelibuey ewe lambs. Twelve Pelibuey ewe lambs (76 days old and 11.7 kg body weight) were assigned to one of two treatments (six female lambs per treatment). The treatments consisted of mineral salt with or without monensin sodium, offered ad libitum during 66 days (ten days for adaptation to growth trial and 56 days for growth trial). Each lamb was assigned to one individual pen; the experimental unit was the lamb. The average daily intake for mineral salts was 12.2 ± 0.9 g/lamb in the treatment without monensin and 2.3 ± 0.6 g/lamb in the treatment with monensin. Mineral supplementation with monensin sodium did not affect (P > 0.05) the body weight, total body weight gain, average daily body weight gain and the growth of the lambs over 15 body measures. During 56 days of this study, the lambs gained weight, 1.5 ± 0.3 kg of total body weight/lamb and 27 ± 5 g daily body weight gain/lamb. The monensin treatment did not affect (P > 0.05) the daily intake of dry matter and crude protein. In Pelibuey ewe lambs fed with African Star hay, the mineral supplement with monensin sodium did not affect the average daily body weight gain nor the daily intake of dry matter and crude protein with respect to mineral supplement without monensin sodium.