The experiment was carried to study three levels (0, 50 e 100%) of high moisture corn silage replacing dry corn grain in rations of lambs fed in creep feeding. Twenty four Suffolk lambs were evaluated to live weight (LW) gain and carcasses dressing-outs percentage. It was performed an economical analysis too. Rations in creep feeding were fed ad libitum, and rests were weighed to obtain mean intake by treatment. When lambs reached 28 kg LW, lambs were submitted to 16 h fasting, and so were weighted again to check live weight at slaughter. After that, animals were eviscerated to obtain hot carcasses weights and dressing-out. After 24 h cooling, cold carcasses weight, dressing-out, and cooling loss were registered. Results showed that replacing levels did not affect lambs daily live weight gain, slaughter age, and hot and cool carcasses dressing-outs, showing that high moisture corn silage can replace dry corn grain in lambs feeding. Nevertheless, as slaughter weight was pre-established, individual variation of slaughter age caused that this variable affected animal performance, weights and dressing-outs. So, as later slaughter age, worst results of all studied parameters. Ration with 50% of high moisture corn silage showed better economical results and ration without high moisture corn silage showed less economical return.
creep feeding; sheep; suplemmentation
