Forage and splanchnic tissue mass in growing lambs: Effects of dietary forage levels and source on splanchnic tissue mass in growing lambs

Forty-two crossbred lambs (33·4 kg initial body weight; twenty-four wethers and eighteen ewes) were used in a 42 d experiment with a 2 × 3 factorial treatment arrangement to determine effects of forage level and source on splanchnic tissue mass. Diets were 250 and 750 g/kg of chopped lucerne ( Medicago sativa ) (A), ryegrass ( Lolium multiflorum )– wheat ( Triticum aestivum ) (RW) or bermudagrass ( Cynodon dactylon ) (B) hay, with the remainder being maize-based concentrate. Five lambs per treatment were slaughtered at the end of the experiment and measurements made of internal organs and contents of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Digestible organic matter intake (DOMI) on the 7 d preceding slaughter was 0·89, 0·83, 0·90, 0·83, 0·77 and 0·61 (SE 0·05) kg/d, and live-weight gain was 0·20, 0·17, 0·18, 0·10, 0·10 and 0·07 (SE 0·02) kg/d for diets A-25, RW-25, B-25, A-75, RW-75 and B-75 respectively. Total GIT mass (fresh) was higher ( P v . diets RW and B) interaction; P