Sisal mucilage silage mixed with wheat bran or ground corn appears to be a workable feed for feedlot lambs, according to Gram Research analysis of a 2026 study of 32 lambs. Plain sisal silage without additives cut daily weight gain from 230 to 200 grams, so the additives matter.
Farmers often look for affordable feed for growing sheep, and sisal plant leftovers preserved as silage are one option being tested. According to Gram Research analysis of a 2026 study in Archives of Animal Nutrition, researchers fed 32 young Soinga lambs for 60 days on four diets. Lambs eating plain sisal mucilage silage gained weight more slowly than lambs on a standard control diet, averaging 200 grams per day compared with 230 grams. Mixing the silage with wheat bran or ground corn appeared to make it a more practical choice for feedlot systems, where animals are fed in pens. The corn version reduced how much the lambs ate, and the blood tests showed no concerning changes in any group. The study was small and focused on growth in livestock, so these results apply to farm animals, not to human diets.
Key Statistics
A 2026 study of 32 young Soinga lambs found that lambs eating plain sisal mucilage silage gained an average of 200 grams per day, compared with 230 grams per day for lambs on the control diet.
In the same 2026 study, lambs fed sisal silage with ground corn ate about 1.13 kilograms of dry matter and 147 grams of crude protein per day, both lower than the control group, with the protein difference reported as statistically significant.
The 2026 study reported that lambs on plain sisal silage ate about 367 grams of neutral detergent fiber per day, compared with 315 grams per day for control lambs, a statistically significant difference (p = 0.0002).
The Quick Take
- What they studied: Researchers wanted to know whether feeding young sheep a silage made from sisal plant residue, with or without added wheat bran or ground corn, would affect how much they eat, how fast they grow, and their blood health.
- Who participated: The study used 32 young Soinga lambs that started at about 19 kilograms (about 42 pounds). The lambs were split evenly across four diets, with eight lambs per diet, and were followed for 60 days.
- Key finding: Lambs eating plain sisal silage gained an average of 200 grams per day, compared with 230 grams per day for lambs on the control diet, a difference the researchers reported as statistically significant. Lambs on the corn-added silage ate less dry matter and protein than control lambs. Blood tests did not change in any group.
- What it means for you: If you raise sheep or lambs, this study suggests that sisal silage on its own may slow growth, while adding wheat bran or ground corn may be a more workable option. The results come from one small study on farm animals, so talk with a veterinarian or animal nutrition specialist before changing your feed.
The Research Details
This was a controlled feeding experiment. Researchers randomly assigned each lamb to one of four diets, which helps make sure the groups are comparable at the start. The control group ate a standard diet. The other three groups ate silage made from sisal mucilage, which is a sticky, gel-like material from the sisal plant. One group got plain sisal silage, one got sisal silage mixed with wheat bran, and one got sisal silage mixed with ground corn.
Over 60 days, the team measured how much food each lamb ate, how much weight it gained each day, how the lambs behaved while eating, and several blood markers related to protein and energy use. Because each diet had eight animals, the researchers could compare groups fairly and check whether the differences were larger than chance would explain.
The study was run in a controlled setting where every lamb received measured amounts of feed. This level of control makes it easier to link a specific feed to a specific result.
Random assignment and measured feeding are strong features of this design. They reduce the chance that other factors, such as age or starting weight differences, explain the results. Tracking intake, weight gain, and blood markers together also gives a fuller picture than weight gain alone, since a feed can look fine on the scale while still changing how animals eat or use nutrients.
The study used a randomized design with eight animals per group, which is a reasonable starting point for animal research but still a small number. The journal is a specialist publication in animal nutrition, so the work went through expert review in its field. Because this summary is based on the published abstract, some details, such as exact growth numbers for the wheat bran group, were not available to us. Readers should look at the full paper for complete data before drawing firm conclusions. The results also come from one breed, one location, and one 60-day period.
What the Results Show
The main finding concerned how much the lambs ate. Lambs on the corn-added silage ate less dry matter, averaging about 1.13 kilograms per day, than control lambs. They also ate less crude protein, averaging 147 grams per day. Both differences were reported as statistically significant, meaning they were unlikely to be due to chance alone.
Fiber intake went the other way. Lambs on plain sisal silage ate about 367 grams of neutral detergent fiber per day, and lambs on the wheat bran version ate about 389 grams, compared with 315 grams for control lambs. Fiber is the tough, structural part of plant food, and eating more of it is a sign that the diet was bulkier. This difference was also statistically significant.
Weight gain showed the clearest practical difference. Lambs on plain sisal silage gained about 200 grams per day, compared with about 230 grams per day for control lambs. That gap of roughly 30 grams per day adds up over 60 days, and the researchers reported it as statistically significant. The abstract does not give daily gain figures for the two additive groups, so we cannot say from the summary how they compared on weight gain.
Blood biochemical profiles, which are measurements in the blood that reflect how the body handles protein and energy, did not change across the diets. This is a reassuring sign that the sisal silages did not cause obvious problems with the lambs’ internal chemistry during the 60 days. The researchers also looked at feeding behavior and enzyme and nutrient profiles of the diets. These measures help explain why intake and growth shifted, though the abstract gives only a brief overview of them.
Using agricultural leftovers and plant byproducts as livestock feed is a widely studied strategy, especially in regions where feed grains are costly. Researchers commonly test whether a new feed keeps animal growth steady while lowering costs. This study fits that pattern. Its finding that plain silage slowed growth while additives helped keep the feed usable is consistent with the general idea that some fibrous or high-moisture feeds need balancing ingredients to work well. Because the study is a single experiment, it adds one piece of evidence rather than settling the question.
The study had only 32 lambs, so small differences could be harder to detect or could shift in a larger group. It lasted 60 days, which shows short-term effects but not how the animals would do over a full production cycle or over several generations. It also tested one breed of sheep under one set of conditions, so the results may not carry over to other breeds, climates, or farm setups. The summary we reviewed does not report daily weight gain for the wheat bran and corn groups, which limits how confidently we can judge them on growth. Finally, the lambs were studied for growth and blood health, not for meat quality or long-term animal welfare, which are also important to farmers.
The Bottom Line
Based on this single study, plain sisal mucilage silage appears to slow lamb growth compared with a standard diet, so it may not be a good choice on its own. Adding wheat bran or ground corn may make sisal silage a more workable option for feedlot lambs, and the authors recommend both additive versions. Confidence is moderate at best, since this is one small study and the growth numbers for the additive groups are not fully reported in the summary. Farmers should confirm these results with larger trials or local extension advice before changing their feeding programs.
Sheep and lamb producers, especially those running feedlot systems where animals are fed in pens, and those looking for lower-cost feed alternatives should pay attention to this research. Animal nutrition researchers and feed advisors may also find it useful. People who only eat lamb or who follow human nutrition plans will not find direct guidance here, since the study tested feed for farm animals and did not look at human health.
In this study, differences in intake and daily weight gain appeared over the 60-day feeding period. A farmer testing a similar feed would likely need several weeks to see whether lambs are gaining well and whether they are eating enough. Judging the full value of a feed usually takes at least one complete growing period, so a farm trial could take a few months before any firm conclusions are drawn.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is sisal silage good feed for sheep?
A 2026 study of 32 lambs found that plain sisal mucilage silage slowed growth, with lambs gaining 200 grams per day versus 230 grams on a control diet. Mixing in wheat bran or ground corn was recommended by the authors for feedlot use, though this is one small study and more research is needed.
What does adding wheat bran to sisal silage do for lambs?
The 2026 study tested sisal silage with wheat bran and found lambs ate more fiber than control lambs, at about 389 grams per day. The authors recommended this mixture for feedlot systems, but the summary does not report full weight gain numbers for this group, so farmers should review the complete paper.
Does corn in sheep feed reduce how much lambs eat?
In a 2026 study, lambs fed sisal silage with ground corn ate less dry matter and crude protein than control lambs. Intake averaged about 1.13 kilograms of dry matter per day. Blood tests showed no concerning changes, but farmers should watch intake and weight gain closely.
Are these sisal silage findings relevant to human diets?
No, this research studied livestock feed for young sheep and measured growth and blood markers in animals. It does not test human nutrition. People interested in their own diets should consult a registered dietitian or doctor rather than applying findings from animal feed trials.
Want to Apply This Research?
- If you raise sheep, weigh each lamb at the same time of day once a week and log the results. Calculate average daily gain by dividing weight change by the number of days. Also record how much feed is offered and how much is left over each day, so you can estimate intake per animal.
- If you are changing a lamb’s diet, make the switch gradually over one to two weeks and log feed intake and weight every week. Watch for drops in eating or slower gains, which would suggest the new feed is not working for your animals. Keep your own nutrition logs separate from livestock records so the two do not get mixed up.
- Build a simple long-term log that records feed type, weekly weights, daily intake, and any health notes such as changes in appetite or behavior. Review trends every month and compare each feed batch against your baseline. If you notice steady gains from one feed over several cycles, that is a stronger signal than any single weigh-in. Share the data with a veterinarian or animal nutrition advisor for periodic review.
This article summarizes a research study on animal feed for young sheep and is intended for general information only. The findings apply to farm animals and do not provide guidance on human diet, health, or medical care. Anyone managing livestock feed should consult a licensed veterinarian or animal nutrition specialist before making changes, and should review the full published paper for complete data.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.