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Evaluation of using maize stover silage by sheep
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Abstract: This work was conducted to determine the chemical composition and the yield of green maize stover for 5 hybrids after harvesting grains (SC 120, SC 123, TWC 323, TWC Watania 1 and TWC Dahab). The chemical composition and nutritive values of these hybrids as silages were also determined.
Eighteen male barki lambs weighing 19.5 kg average LBW to study the growth performance of lambs fed maize stover silage. Lambs were divided in to three equal groups (6 animal each) and fed the following rations: Ration l (R1) contained on DM basis, 58% concentrate feed mixture (FCM), 42% berseem hay and served as control; (R2) contained 56% CFM, 21% berseem hay and 23% maize stover silage and (R3) contained 55% CFM and 45% maize stover silage.
There were appreciable differences in chemical composition and yield as fresh or on DM basis of maize stover of the 5 hybrids and varieties. The yield of 5 varieties ranged between 8.4 (TWC 324) to 16.22 (SC 120) ton/feddan with an average of 11.83 ton/feddan as fresh maize stover or 2.50 (TWC 323) to 4.21 (SC 120) ton/feddan as DM with an average of 3.25 ton/feddan.
The SC 120 and TWC watania 1 were superior in their yield of fresh stover and DM (16.22, 4.11 and 14.08,4.21 ton/feddan), respectively than other tested hybrids. All chemical constituents of maize stover silage were lower than fresh stover except ash content, which was higher in silage than in fresh.
Green corn stover of the tested hybrids ensiled without any additives, produced good quality silage with suitable fermentation characteristics, yollowish green colour and good smell.
The differences between the five tested maize stover silage in the digestibility coefficient values of all nutrients were significant except OM and EE. Also, the nutritive values as TDN and DCP were significantly different (P<0.05) and ranged from 54.78 to 59.96% and 1.94 to 3.68%, respectively.
Digestibility coefficient of the tested ration was higher in EE and NFE in rations containing maize stover silage than in control ration, while OM, CP and CF digestibility was insignificantly higher than in control ration. The TDN was higher (P<0.05) while DCP content was lower for rations containing maize stover than those of the control ration.
There were no deleterious affect on fermentation of the experimental roughage as ruminal parameter including pH and VFA's concentration, while ammonia-N concentration was higher (P<0.05) for lambs fed control than other rations.
Blood parameters results indicated that, no significant different were found between lambs fed the experimental rations.
Daily gain and feed efficiency were higher with the control ration than other treatments, but statistical analysis showed no significant differences between treatments. Economical efficiency pointed out that inclusion of maize stover silage in R2 and R3 reduced the cost of feeding by 6.71 and 22.15% respectively, compared with control ration.
Key words: Corn stover silage, Lambs, Growth performance.
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| Publication year |
2000
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| Pages |
591-603
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| Availability location |
معهد بحوث الانتا ج الحيوانى- شارع نادى الصيد- الدقى - الجيزة
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| Availability number |
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| Organization Name |
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| City |
طنطا
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| serial title |
Journal Agricultural Research Tanta Univ
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| Author(s) from ARC |
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| Agris Categories |
Animal feeding
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AGROVOC
TERMS |
Chemical composition.
Growth.
Lambs.
Performance testing.
Sheep.
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| Proposed Agrovoc |
maize stover silage;green maize stover;
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| Publication Type |
Journal
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