Intakes of well-fermented silages by store lambs can be disappointing, with liveweight gains well below the 100 to 125 g/d required to fatten lambs over the winter. To achieve high levels of gain it has been necessary to supplement grass silages. Barley, as an energy supplement, has increased the intake of dry matter but often the intake of silage dry matter is decreased. Protein supplements, on the other hand, have been shown to increase silage DM intake. The objectives of this study were to compare the effects on intake and performance of store lambs of two supplements of differing protein content when offered as the sole constituent of the diet or with one of two silages at two levels of supplementation.

After a 24 hour wilt, perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) was ensiled: half of the material was untreated and half was treated with an additive which contained lactic acid bacteria (supplying 106 cfu/g), Lactobacillus plantarum and Pediococcus pentosaceus and enzymes derived from Trichoderma reesei.