TO GRAIN OR NOT TO GRAIN. SHELBURNE FARMS LAMB FEEDING TRIAL Phoebe Garfinkel Sam (Shepherd) Smith Chet Parsons Ed Jackson Rachel Gilker Elaine Burnor.

SHELBURNE FARMS LAMB FEEDING TRIAL

Phoebe GarfinkelSam (Shepherd) SmithChet ParsonsEd JacksonRachel GilkerElaine Burnor

Research made possible by:Shelburne Farms andConservation Fund

Lambs have been traditionally finished in confinement on grain

Shelburne Farms hasan ample supply of grass

Shelburne Farms cheeseis made from milk fromtheir dairy herd of Brown Swiss dairy cows

Results of forage test on the dairy cow pasture from 2005

Sid Bosworth, UVM and Nat Bacon, Shelburne Farms

Why not feed some of this grass to lambs?

Divided the lambs into three equal groups

Groups were randomly selected

• Raised by ewe

• Raised with a bottle

One group was put in confinement and fed grain.

The other two groups were put on pasture

Both groups on pasture were provided with water, minerals and shade; and one group was provided with whole shell corn.

The lambs were weighed every two weeks

AVERAGE TWO WEEK GAIN

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

June 22 July 6 July 20

Po

un

ds Pasture plus corn

Pasture

Confinement

LAMB WEIGHTS

4045505560657075

6/2/

2006

6/9/

2006

6/16

/2006

6/23

/2006

6/30

/2006

7/7/

2006

7/14

/2006

DATE

LB

S

G/Corn

Grass

Confine

Total mean weight gain per sheep in pounds.

• Grain Fed 39.8A

• Pasture Only 31.6B

• Pasture Plus Corn 29.0B

Concentrate Pasture Plus Corn Pasture Only

Feed costs 429.31 87.41 0

Yardage/land use fees 22.80 50.00 50.00

Labor 157.50 168.75 168.75

Cost per lb.of gain 1.44 0.78 0.55

Costs

Cost Per Pound of Gain

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

Pasture Pasture plus corn Confinement

$

Pasture Walk

Explained MIGFencing

Live Lamb Grading Workshop

Compare degree of finish on lambs

Taste Testing

Taste Testing

Taste Testing

Some considered taste. Others justate.

Taste Testing

No significant differencebetween groups;it was all good.

What did we learn?

• Lambs need to be taught to graze?

• Corn– Period to get acclimated to it– Limit the amount they receive??

• Parasites on pasture

What did we learn?

• Grain– More expensive but quicker– Excessive fat if taken to a heaver weight?

What did we learn?

• Grass fed lamb appeared to be comparable to grain fed in taste test– Keep in mind it was excellent grass