The Utilization of Rumen Content-Barley Meal in Diets of Growing Lambs

Abouhief, M. A.; Kraidees, M. S.; Al-Selbood, B. A.

doi:1999.12.8.1234

Article

Ruminant Nutrition and Forage Utilization

Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences 1999;12(8): 1234-1240.
https://doi.org/10.5713/ajas.1999.1234 Published online December 1, 1999.

The Utilization of Rumen Content-Barley Meal in Diets of Growing Lambs

M. A. Abouhief, M. S. Kraidees, B. A. Al-Selbood

Abstract

The nutritive value of rumen contents and barley mixture (4:1 w/w; RCB) was evaluated and the effect of their feeding on growth performances in Najdi lambs was studied. A metabolism trial was conducted with 16 rams divided into four dietary groups. The diets were: a whole-mixed control diet and three diets where RCB was incorporated at the rates of 25, 50 and 100%, replacing an equal amount of control diet. The results showed that there was a depression (p<0.05) in DM digestibility for the 100% RCB diet in comparison with other diets. The digestibility of CP was higher(p<0.05) for the 25% RCB diet as compared to the control diet; there was a trend for a small (p>0.05) decrease in digestibility as level of RCB increased. Lambs in all studied diets were in positive nitrogen balance; the differences between diets were not significant. A total of 45 lambs were allotted into three groups and used to evaluate the effect of dietary inclusion of RCB (0, 25 and 50%) on growth performance and carcass traits. Daily DM intake, final body weight, carcass weight and dressing percentage were not different among treatments. Average weight gain and ether extract (EE) in 9-11th control joint were higher (p<0.05) in lambs fed control diet than those fed RCB diets. The substitution of RCB for 50% of control diet exhibited 11.8% reduction in feeding cost for each kg of body weight gain.

Keywords: Lambs; Rumen Contents; Digestibility; Growth Performance