Effect of sodium bicarbonate supplementation and 2 different ambient temperatures on growth performance and carcass characteristics of lambs fed concentrate diets

Twenty male Barbados lambs (3 months old) were used to evaluate the effects of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) supplementation on growth performance and carcass characteristics of lambs fed concentrate diets in controlled-environment chambers set at 20 degrees C and 30 degrees C. In the 35-week-long growth trial, the animals were divided into 4 groups (n = 5) and fed 2 dietary treatments: a basal diet (35:65 roughage and concentrate) or a basal diet supplemented with 4% NaHCO3. Twelve lambs randomly selected from this trial were arranged in a 2 x 2 factorial design for a 10-day-long slaughter and carcass evaluation experiment. Lambs in the 20 degrees C ambient temperature group had higher (P < 0.001) feed intake (PT, g day(-1)) and body weights (P < 0.01) than those of the other group. The NaHCO3-supplemented group had higher (P < 0.05) FI g day(-1) and average daily gain (ADG, kg(-1)) (P < 0.01) than the other group. The 30 degrees C ambient temperature affected half carcass weights, body lengths, and bone lengths (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, and P < 0.01, respectively). In conclusion, incorporation of NaHCO3 to concentrate diets at a 20 degrees C ambient temperature increased FI g day(-1)and ADG kg(-1), resulting in improved growth performance of the lambs.