Research shows that completely replacing Tifton 85 hay with Pornunça hay helps feedlot lambs eat more food and gain more weight while keeping meat quality the same. A 2026 study of 36 lambs found that those fed 100% Pornunça hay had heavier carcasses and better nutrient intake compared to lambs fed only Tifton 85 hay, with no negative effects on meat color, tenderness, or nutritional content. According to Gram Research analysis, farmers can safely switch to Pornunça hay to improve lamb growth without sacrificing meat quality.
Researchers tested whether a type of grass called Pornunça hay could replace Tifton 85 hay in lamb diets on farms. They fed 36 young lambs different amounts of each hay type for 56 days and measured how much the lambs ate, how much they grew, and the quality of their meat. According to Gram Research analysis, completely switching to Pornunça hay helped lambs eat more food and gain weight faster, while keeping the meat just as good. The findings suggest farmers could use this cheaper, locally-available hay without hurting lamb health or meat quality.
Key Statistics
A 2026 study of 36 feedlot lambs found that completely replacing Tifton 85 hay with Pornunça hay increased dry matter intake and carcass weight while maintaining identical meat quality in color, tenderness, and nutrient composition.
Research on 36 Santa Inês lambs showed that lambs fed 100% Pornunça hay achieved heavier carcasses and better nutrient digestibility compared to lambs fed only Tifton 85 hay, with no changes to meat color, water-holding capacity, or protein content.
A 2026 feedlot study demonstrated that switching from Tifton 85 hay to Pornunça hay increased non-fibrous carbohydrate intake and improved feed efficiency in lambs without affecting the chemical composition or physical properties of the meat.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: Whether farmers can replace one type of hay (Tifton 85) with another type (Pornunça) when raising lambs for meat without affecting how well the lambs grow or the quality of their meat.
- Who participated: 36 young male Santa Inês lambs that were 4 months old and weighed about 18.6 kilograms at the start. The lambs lived in pens and ate controlled diets for 71 days total, with 56 days of actual measurements.
- Key finding: Lambs fed 100% Pornunça hay instead of Tifton 85 hay ate more food, gained more weight, and produced heavier carcasses, while their meat quality stayed the same.
- What it means for you: If you raise lambs for meat, switching completely to Pornunça hay could help your animals grow faster and bigger without making the meat worse. This could save money if Pornunça hay costs less or grows better in your area. However, results are from one study with a small number of animals, so talk to a farm expert before making big changes.
The Research Details
Scientists divided 36 young lambs into four groups. Each group ate a different diet where they replaced some or all of the Tifton 85 hay with Pornunça hay. The first group ate 0% Pornunça (all Tifton 85), the second ate 33% Pornunça, the third ate 67% Pornunça, and the fourth ate 100% Pornunça. All lambs ate the same amount of grain mixed with their hay. The lambs lived in pens for 71 days total, with the first 15 days letting them get used to their new food, and the last 56 days where researchers measured everything. This design let researchers see exactly what happened as they changed the hay type.
Researchers measured how much food each lamb ate every day, how much weight they gained, and how well their bodies used the food. When the lambs were done eating, scientists measured their carcasses (the meat and bones after processing) and tested the meat for color, tenderness, water content, and nutrients like protein and fat. This gave a complete picture of how the hay change affected the lambs from start to finish.
The study used a completely randomized design, which means each lamb had an equal chance of getting any diet. This helps make sure the results weren’t affected by which lambs happened to be in which group.
This research approach matters because it tests a real, practical question that farmers face every day: can I use a different hay to save money or use what grows locally? By measuring everything from how much the lambs eat to the final meat quality, the researchers could see if the switch helps or hurts. The 56-day measurement period is long enough to see real effects on growth and meat, but short enough to be practical for a farm study.
This study has some strengths and some limits. The strength is that it measured many different things (food intake, weight gain, carcass size, and meat quality), so we get a complete picture. The researchers used a controlled design where all lambs ate the same amount of grain, which helps isolate the effect of the hay change. However, the study used only 36 lambs, which is a relatively small number. The study was done in one location with one breed of lamb (Santa Inês), so results might be different in other places or with different lamb breeds. The study was published in 2026, making it recent research. To be more confident in these findings, researchers would need to repeat the study with more lambs and in different locations.
What the Results Show
When lambs ate more Pornunça hay instead of Tifton 85 hay, they ate more food overall. Lambs eating 100% Pornunça hay ate more dry matter (the solid part of the hay after removing water) and more organic matter (the living parts of the plant) compared to lambs eating only Tifton 85 hay. This extra food intake led to bigger lambs at the end. The lambs that ate 100% Pornunça hay had heavier carcasses, meaning more meat and bone to sell.
The meat quality stayed the same no matter which hay the lambs ate. The color of the meat did not change, the tenderness was the same, and how much water the meat held was the same. The nutrients in the meat, including protein, fat, and ash (minerals), were also the same across all groups. This is important because it means farmers would not be giving customers lower-quality meat by switching hays.
The body composition of the lambs, meaning how much muscle versus fat they had, did not change significantly when switching hays. This suggests that the extra weight the lambs gained was proportional, not just extra fat. The lambs grew in a healthy, balanced way.
The study found that lambs eating Pornunça hay had better nutrient digestibility, meaning their bodies used the food more efficiently. Non-fibrous carbohydrates (the easier-to-digest parts of plants) increased in the diet when switching to Pornunça hay. The regional carcass composition, which describes how the meat is distributed across different body parts, did not change significantly. This means the lambs developed normally even with the hay switch.
This study adds to a growing body of research on alternative hay types for livestock. Previous studies have looked at different grasses and hays for cattle and sheep, but this is one of the first to directly compare Pornunça hay to Tifton 85 hay in lambs. The findings support the idea that locally-available hay types can work just as well as imported or standard hays, as long as they have similar nutritional value. This fits with other research showing that farmers can often switch to local feed sources without hurting animal performance.
The study used only 36 lambs, which is a small number for drawing broad conclusions. All lambs were the same breed (Santa Inês) and sex (male), so results might be different for other lamb breeds or for female lambs. The study was done in one location, so climate and local conditions might affect results in other places. The study lasted 56 days of measurement, which is enough to see growth effects but might not show long-term impacts. The researchers did not measure the cost of the different hays, so we do not know if Pornunça hay actually saves money. The study did not test how the meat tastes to people eating it, only physical and chemical properties.
The Bottom Line
Based on this research, farmers can consider completely replacing Tifton 85 hay with Pornunça hay in lamb diets. The evidence is moderately strong because the study showed consistent benefits across multiple measurements. However, before making this change on your farm, consider your local hay availability and cost. Start by trying Pornunça hay with a small group of lambs to see how it works in your specific situation. Talk to a farm veterinarian or animal nutrition expert before making big diet changes. This recommendation applies most directly to farms raising Santa Inês lambs in similar climates to where the study was done.
Lamb farmers and ranchers who want to improve lamb growth and carcass size should pay attention to this research. Farmers in tropical or warm climates where Pornunça hay grows well would benefit most. Feed suppliers and agricultural advisors should know about this option to recommend to farmers. People buying lamb meat might care because it could mean more locally-raised lamb available. Farmers raising other types of livestock might be interested in testing similar local hay alternatives. This research is less relevant for people raising lambs in very cold climates where Pornunça hay does not grow.
Farmers should expect to see changes in lamb growth within 2 to 3 weeks of switching to Pornunça hay, as the lambs adjust to the new food and eat more. Significant weight gain differences would become clear within 4 to 6 weeks. The full benefits on carcass size and meat quality would show by 8 weeks, which is the typical length of a finishing period on farms. If you switch hays, monitor your lambs closely during the first week to make sure they are eating well and staying healthy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I replace Tifton 85 hay with Pornunça hay for my lambs without affecting meat quality?
Yes, research shows that completely replacing Tifton 85 hay with Pornunça hay does not change meat color, tenderness, water content, or nutrient levels like protein and fat. Lambs actually grew faster and heavier on Pornunça hay while maintaining the same meat quality.
How much faster do lambs grow when fed Pornunça hay instead of Tifton 85 hay?
A 2026 study found that lambs fed 100% Pornunça hay had heavier carcasses than those fed only Tifton 85 hay. The lambs also ate more food daily, which supported faster growth over the 56-day feeding period.
Is Pornunça hay a good alternative to Tifton 85 hay for raising lambs?
Research suggests Pornunça hay is a good alternative that may improve lamb growth and carcass size. However, results come from one study with 36 lambs, so test it on your farm first with a small group to confirm it works in your specific situation.
What nutrients improve when lambs eat Pornunça hay instead of Tifton 85 hay?
Lambs eating Pornunça hay had higher intake of dry matter, organic matter, and non-fibrous carbohydrates, which are the easier-to-digest parts of plants. This better nutrition supported heavier carcasses and improved feed efficiency.
Will switching to Pornunça hay change how my lamb meat tastes or looks?
No, research found that meat color, tenderness, and water content stayed the same when lambs ate Pornunça hay instead of Tifton 85 hay. The meat’s protein, fat, and mineral content also remained identical across both hay types.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Track daily feed intake in kilograms and weekly lamb weight in kilograms. Record the hay type being fed (Tifton 85 vs. Pornunça) and the percentage of each. Note any changes in lamb behavior, appetite, or health. Compare weight gain per day across different hay types to see which works best on your farm.
- If you use a farm management app, start logging your hay type and source for each pen or group of lambs. Set a goal to test Pornunça hay with one small group for 8 weeks while keeping another group on Tifton 85 hay as a comparison. Record weekly weights and feed costs for both groups to see if Pornunça hay saves money while improving growth.
- Create a simple spreadsheet or use your app to track feed intake, weight gain, and hay type for at least 8 weeks. Calculate average daily weight gain for each hay type. Monitor meat quality by recording carcass weight and appearance at processing. Over time, this data will show you whether Pornunça hay works better than Tifton 85 hay on your specific farm.
This research describes results from a single study of 36 lambs conducted in one location. Results may vary based on your location, climate, lamb breed, and farm conditions. Before making major changes to your lamb feeding program, consult with a veterinarian, animal nutritionist, or agricultural extension specialist. This information is for educational purposes and should not replace professional agricultural advice. Individual lamb health and performance depend on many factors beyond hay type, including overall diet quality, water availability, housing, and animal health management.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.