Objective.

Evaluate the effect of three growth promoters on feed intake (FI) and daily weight gain (DWG) in hair lambs.

Materials and methods.

Twelve lambs were randomly assigned to four treatments with three repetitions each one: Control 1 treatment (C-T1; basal diet), treatment 2 (T2; supplementation with 0.125 g of Zilpaterol Hydrochloride (Zilmax®), treatment 3 (T3; supplementation with 3 g of Ractopamine Hydrochloride (LAPI-RACTO®) and treatment 4 (T4; 12 mg of Zeranol in implants) (Zearalenone-Ralgro®). A randomized complete block statistical design was used.

Results.

The study found a significant difference in food consumption (p<0.05). Indeed, through orthogonal contrasts to T2 vs T4 (p<0.05). Also, a significant difference was identified in the food offered for the contrast T1-C vs T2 and the treatments T2 vs T4 (p<0.05). In the case of food consumption, there was a significant difference for T1-C vs T2 and the contrast for T3 vs T4 (p<0.05). For the rejected food, no significant differences were found in any of the contrasts (p>0.05). T4 presented greater DWG versus to T2 (p<0.05).

Conclusion.

The use of zeranol (T4) improved feed intake and daily weight gain in hair lambs.

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