Effects of substituting feather meal for soybean meal on ruminal fiber fermentation and lamb and wool growth

Our objective was to evaluate the effects of substituting feather meal (FM) for soybean meal (SBM) on ruminal fiber fermentation, lamb gain, blood metabolite profiles, and wool growth. A SBM supplement was formulated, and FM replaced either 33% (33FM), 66% (66FM), or 100% (FMS) of the SBM protein. Four ruminally cannulated wethers were used in a 4 x 4 Latin square design to study in situ ruminal digestion. Wethers were limit-fed barley straw and fed the supplements once daily. Ruminal NH3 N concentrations reflected a sampling time x protein source interaction (P < .01). Within sampling times, ruminal NH3 N concentrations decreased linearly (P < .05) as FM replaced soybean meal. Cubic (0 h; P < .10) and quadratic (24 h; P < .05) responses also were noted for ruminal NH3 N concentration. Substitution of FM for SBM had no effect (P > .10) on rate and extent of straw NDF disappearance. A 56-d feeding trial was conducted using 28 wether lambs (n = 7 per treatment; initial BW 32.3 kg). Wethers were individually fed chopped barley straw and one of the four supplements described previously. Linear increases (P < .05) in BW gain and serum total protein concentration were observed as FM replaced SBM. Wool fiber diameter and sulfur content did not differ (P > .10) among treatments. These data suggest that FM can be substituted for SBM in protein supplements fed to sheep consuming low-quality roughages at a maintenance level of ME intake.