The comparative effect of creep and conventional feeding methods on growth performance and oxidative stress markers...

This study aimed to determine the effect of conventional and creep-feeding methods on growth performance and oxidative stress in Akkaraman (AKK) lambs. For this purpose, the AKK lambs (n = 60) used in this study were divided into four groups (15 n × 2 sex × 2 feeding methods), and all of them were fed the same ration. In the conventional feeding method, the lambs were taken to their dams for suckling twice a day and then kept in a separate compartment for further feeding. In contrast, in the creep-feeding method, the lambs always stayed with their mothers and had free access to supplementary feed by passing through the creep-feeding area. The data for body weights, body measurements, and saliva samples were collected five times, 14 days apart, to evaluate lambs' growth performance and oxidative stress markers. The results showed a higher (P < 0.05) body weight gain in the creep-fed group than in the conventional-fed group. The difference between creep and conventional feeding was significant (P = 0.033), but the difference between the groups in terms of gender was nonsignificant (P = 0.438). The males fed with the creep-feeding (CR-M) group had the largest body length (BL), pectoral chest width (PCW), chest depth (CD), chest circumference (CC), head length (HL), and head width (HW) measurements. The males fed with the conventional feeding (CO-M) group had the largest wither height (WH) measurement, and females fed with the conventional feeding (CO-F) group had the largest back length (BAL) body size. When the overall improvement in body measurements was considered, it was determined that the body sizes of many males in creep-feeding increased more than those of other feeding groups. The oxidative stress marker malondialdehyde (MDA) was higher (P < 0.001) in the conventional feeding group. Other oxidative stress markers, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione s-transferase (GSH-ST), were higher in the creep-feeding group (P < 0.001). Considering these findings, it is possible to conclude that creep-feeding is superior to conventional feeding to get a higher growth rate and reduce oxidative stress in AKK lambs.