Evaluation of GEM Experimental Crosses for Starch Amylose

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Floyd Simpson.
Dr. Tom Marshall, Faculty Mentor.

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A 93-day feeding study evaluated whether lamb diets prepared with genetically modified (Bt) corn influenced the growth of lambs as compared to diets prepared with nongenetically modified (control) corn grain. Forty-two lambs were assigned by weight and sex to one of the two diets. Lambs gained 47.6 and 50.8 lb on the Bt and control diets, respectively. No statistically significant differences (p=0.69) in gain over the 93-day feeding period were observed between lambs fed diets containing genetically modified corn and similar diets containing control corn. After the 93-day feeding study, lambs were fasted for 24 hours and then placed in an enclosure containing equal amounts of Bt and control corn. Seventeen lambs chose the Bt corn, 21 lambs chose the control corn and 4 lambs failed to choose. There were no statistically significant (p=0.47) differences in preference between Bt and control corn.