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Effect of algae supplementation on growth performance and carcass characteristics of 9rowing male lambs.
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Abstract: Eighteen growing crossbred male lambs (1/2 Rahmani x1/2Finnish Landrace) which have 2-3 months old with an initial average body weight of 15.2 ± 0.98Kg were used in feeding trial. Lambs were distributed into three similar (6 lambs in each) groups and were fed the three respective rations as follows: The first (RI) was the control group fed as 50% concentrate feed mixture (CFM) + 30% berseem hay + 20% wheat straw, R2 was fed control ration with supplemented algae (Spirulina platensis) with ration of 0.2% of feed intake and R3 was fed control ration with supplemented commercial Seaweed®) 0.2% of feed intake. The feeding trials lasted 168 days and animals were fed according to the allowances of growing lambs recommended by NRC (2007). Animals were weighed biweekly to calculate total gain, daily gain and feed conversion. After the end of feeding trial, the animals were fed at the same rations for each group until the animals reached the common marketing weight (40 kg in average). After those, three lambs from each group were chosen randomly and slaughtered to study the carcass characteristics. The data revealed that the final weight was higher in the supplemented algae (R2 and R3) than control group (RI), while, significant differences (P<0.05) between groups in weight gain and daily gain were recorded. On the other hand, feed conversion (kg DM/kg gain) was improved by 9 and 5% for R2 and R3 compared to R1 the algae fed groups recorded highest dressing percentage being were 57.17, 56.36 and 55.50% for RI, R2 and R3, respectively Physical characteristics of best ribs (9-10 and 11) showed the highest content of fat compared to with control group. The chemical composition of meat showed that there were differences between treatments in CP and EE%, R1 had the highest value of EE and lowest value of CP in meat samples. Also, total protein, albumin were significantly (P<0.05) affected by supplemented, while, no significant differences (P<0.05) between all groups in serum ALT, AST, urea-N and creatinine. It could be concluded that, the algae Spirulina platens is (R2) could improve growth performance, feed conversion, carcass characteristics and increased relative economic efficiency.
Keywords: Algae, lambs, carcass characteristics, blood parameters and relative economic efficiency.
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| Publication year |
2013
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| Pages |
419-426
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| Availability location |
معهد بحوث الانتاج الحيوانى- شارع نادى الصيد- دقى- جيزة
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| Availability number |
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| Organization Name |
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| Country |
Egypt
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| serial title |
Egyptian Journal of Nutrition and Feeds
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| ISSN |
1110-6360
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| Volume |
16
. 3
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| Author(s) from ARC |
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| External authors (outside ARC) |
محمود محمد خورشيد
قسم الأنتاج الحيوانى كلية الزراعة جامعة عين شمس
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| Agris Categories |
Animal feeding
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AGROVOC
TERMS |
Algae.
Blood composition.
Carcass composition.
Economic value.
Lambs.
Production increase.
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| Publication Type |
Journal
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