Effect of microbial inoculation of whole plant corn silage on growth performance and carcass characteristics of Rahmani lambs
Abstract: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of microbial inoculates of whole com plants on silage quality, growth performance, blood constituents, carcass characteristics and economic efficiency of Rahmani lambs. Com plants at doughy stage of maturity were inoculated with microbial inoculant (MID/l®) then chopped and ensiled. The results pointed that pH value of silage was 3.95 for uninoculated and 3.80 for inoculated silage. Lactic acid concentration was 4.71 and 5.25% for uninoculated and inoculated silage, respectively.
Inoculated silage had higher concentration of total volatile fatty acids (3.00 %), acetic (1.15 %), propionic (0.85 %), butyric (0.35 %) and valeric acid (0.12 %) than un-inoculated (2.75, 0.99, 0.66, 0.25 and 0.09 %, respectively).
Inoculated com silage had a lower ammonia concentration (0.045 % on DM basis and 2.59 % ammonia of total nitrogen), than uninoculated (0.053 and 3.87 %, respectively). It was noticed that com silage with microbial inoculate increased crude protein, ether extract and ash, while decreased crude fiber, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber.
Inoculate com silage increased most minerals contents and gross energy value. Daily gain was significantly (P<0.01) increased (196.47 vs.161.33 g/h/d). Feed intake of com silage and feed conversion (6.56 vs. 7.80 kg feed/kg gain) were also increased (P<0.01).The results indicated that feed cost for producing one Kg gain was less for lambs fed inoculated com silage compared with those fed un-inoculated, whereas economic efficiency improved by 19%. Inoculation significantly (P<0.05) increased hemoglobin, red blood cells count and phosphorus concentration. Dressing percentage2, hind quarters, edible offals, the 9th 10th and 11th ribs weight were significantly (P<0.05) higher. Yet, feeding inoculated com silage could improve growth performance, feed conversion, carcass characteristics and decreased feed cost of producing one Kg gain (19% less than un-inoculated silage).
Keywords: Corn silage, microbial inoculant, sheep performance, economic efficiency.
Publication year 2012
Pages 17-29
Availability location معهد بحوث الانتاج الحيوانى- شارع نادى الصيد- الدقى - الجيزة
Availability number
Organization Name
serial title Egyptian Journal of Sheep and Goat Sciences
ISSN 2090-0376
Author(s) from ARC
External authors (outside ARC)
    عبد المجيد احمد عبيدو المركز القومى للبحوث
Agris Categories Animal physiology - Nutrition
AGROVOC
TERMS		 Carcass composition. Economic analysis. Lambs.
Proposed Agrovoc sheep performance;microbial inoculant;Corn silage;growth performance;blood constituents;
Publication Type Journal
↑