Effect of feeding different rations with or without Bentonite on the performance of growing lambs
Abstract: Thirty male crossbred lambs (0.75 Rahmany X 0.25 Romanov) averaged 34.02 kg. Live body weight and 7-9 months age were fed for 120 days to study the effect of Bentonite (B) supplementation on their performance. Lambs were divided into six similar groups. Rations consisted of 33.34% concentrate feed mixture (CFM)+ 33.33% berseem hay (BH)+33.33% wheat straw (WS) as a tested ration 1 (TR1), 32.34% CFM+32.33% BH+32..33%WS +3.0% B as TR2, 50.0% CFM +25.0% BH + 25.0% WS as TR3, 48.50% CFM + 24.25% BH + 24.25% WS+ 3.0% B as TR4, 25.0% CFM+ 50.0% BH+ 25.0% WS as TR5 and 24.25% CFM + 48.50% BH+24.25% WS+3.0% B as TR6. Lambs fed rations contained B showed in significantly higher digestibility and daily weight gain than those fed matched rations free from B. Digestibility of TR1 and TR2 that had medium CFM content were significantly (P<0.05) higher for DM, OM, CP, EE, NFE and TDN than TRS, but only for EE, CF and NFE than those of TR3. Total digestible nutrients of TR5 and TR6 were significantly (P<0.05) lower than those of other rations. Daily body weight gain (DBWG) of TR4 showed the highest value, while TR5 showed the lowest value, being 16.01 and 113.3g/lamb/day, respectively. Daily body weight gain of TR4 and TR2 showed significantly (P<0.05) higher values than TR5 and TR6. Total feed and CFM intakes were not negatively affected by B supplement to rations. Findings showed that TR2 and TR4 had the best feed conversion as DM, TDN and DCP/ 1kg DBWG, compared with TR5, TR6 and TR1. Results illustrated that TR2 and TR4 which had 45% and 615% CFM respectively showed the highest economic return being L.E/ head /day 0.392 and 0.291, respectively compared with 0.177LE/h/d for TR1. All treatments showed normal values of serum parameters and rumen liquor charactestistics the normal range of sheep in response to experimental rations with or without B supplement. Adding 3.75- 4.10% bentonite to ration of growing lambs, containing 45-63% CFM of natural protein sources in recommended to improve the growth performance and economic return of lambs.
Keywords: Concentrates, bentonite, lambs, weight gain, economic return, blood parameters, rumen liquor.
Publication year 2003
Pages 1181-1190
Availability location معهد بحوث الانتاج الحيوانى- شارع نادى الصيد- الدقى- الجيزة
Availability number
Organization Name
serial title Egyptian Journal Nutrition and Feed
Author(s) from ARC
External authors (outside ARC)
    محمد عبد المجيد برعى جامعة الازهر
Agris Categories Animal feeding
AGROVOC
TERMS		 Bentonite. Blood composition. Concentrates. Economic value. Feeding. Growth period. Lambs. Performance testing. Rations. Weight gain.
Proposed Agrovoc rumen liquor ;
Publication Type Journal
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