RESUMEN
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.