Productive and reproductive performance of Rahmani sheep fed rations containing reed forage (A rundo domax, L. ) either fresh, hay or silage
Abstract: This experimental work was carried out to study the effect of replacement berseem hay with reed forage in different forms, fresh, hay or silage, on lambs growth performance, some lambs blood parameters, rams semen characteristics and rams fertility. Four equal groups each of eight Rahmani lambs, of average 5 months age and 25.4 kg weight were used to define growth performance. Blood samples from three lambs of each group were collected once at the end of the growth period. Four groups each of three rams weighed 60-65 kg and aged 19 months fed the same lamb's rations to evaluate the response on semen characteristics and reaction time. Rams fertility was evaluated through mating 108 ewes (27 each group). All treated lambs and rams groups were fed (according to NRC) on 50% concentrate feeding mixture (CFM, as basal diet) plus 50% berseem hay (BH) & wheat straw (WS)-control (BH-WS), 50% reed forage hay (RH), 50% reed forage silage (RS) and 50% fresh reed forage (RF). The results indicated significantly faster daily gain with RS (160.7 gld) and RF (155 g/d) than with BH-WS (139.3g/d) and RH (I 32.9g/d). RS group recorded the highest economic return followed by RF then RH while the lowest value was recorded with BH-WS (control). Unless red blood cells count that show significant higher values with BH-WS and RS and phosphorus that show significant higher level with RS than BH- WS or RH, there were insignificant differences noted in other blood parameters and contents measured due to feeds types tested. Semen analysis showed that BH-WS (control) and RS recorded significantly better performance for sperm compared to RH and RF groups. Reaction time was also significantly shorter with BH-WS and RS groups compared to RH or RF. Conception rates were also higher with feeding BH-WS (77.8%) and RS (74.1 %) than feeding RF (66.67%) and RH (62.96%) (p< 0;05).
Keywords: production, reproduction, sheep, reed.
Publication year 2009
Pages 45-54
Availability location معهد بحوث الانتاج الحيوانى-شارع نادى الصيد- الدقى- الجيزة
Availability number
Organization Name
serial title Egyptian Journal of Sheep & Goat Sciences
ISSN 2090-0368
Author(s) from ARC
Agris Categories Animal physiology - Reproduction
AGROVOC
TERMS		 Blood composition. Hay. Lambs. Production. Reproduction. Sheep. Silage.
Proposed Agrovoc reed;berseem hay;reed forage;growth performance;rams semen characteristics;rams fertility;
Publication Type Journal
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