Effect of seasonal changes and type of roughage on:1-Growth performance, metabolic activity and carcass characteristics of crossbreed lambs
Abstract: Eighteen growing crossbreed lambs (23.2±0.91 kg average live body weight; 5 month old) were used to investigate growth performance, feed efficiency, metabolic aspects and carcass characteristics of lambs as affected by type of roughage under different seasons. Lambs were randomly distributed to three experimental groups (six for each). First group was fed starter concentrate feed mixture (CFM) and berseem hay (R1 ;as a control). Whereas, other groups were fed CFM plus berseem silage supplemented with either 5% ground yellow corn (BSC; R2) or lactic acid bacteria and yeast mixture (BSB; R3) during ensiling process. The local environmental temperature was recorded monthly. Daily weight gain, relative growth rate, daily dry matter intake and feed conversion were recorded. Also, production and economic efficiency of lambs were calculated. The adjusted net energy of maintenance (NEm) and growth (NEg) were calculated according to thermal air temperature. Results showed that total gain and average daily gain of lambs fed R2 were higher than other groups with no significant differences, while feed conversion in R3 was better than other groups (7.771 VS. 9.425 and 8.497 for R3, R1 and R2, respectively) owing to the lowest total dry matter intake with R3.The NEm was slightly higher in R2 than other groups. Whereas, R3 was the lowest (P<0.01) value of NEg. Retained energy and production efficiency were higher (PKeywords: Lambs, growth, carcass, net energy, seasonal changes, roughage
Publication year 2012
Pages 167-181
Availability location معهد بحوث الانتاج الحيوانى- شارع نادى الصيد- الدقى- الجيزة
Availability number
Organization Name
City المنصورة
serial title Journal Animal and Poultry Production, Mansoura University
ISSN 2090-3642
Author(s) from ARC
Agris Categories Animal physiology - Nutrition
AGROVOC
TERMS		 Carcass composition. Energy value. Growth. Lambs. Performance testing. Roughage.
Proposed Agrovoc seasonal changes;
Publication Type Journal
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