Effect of management systems and zeolite treatment on growth performance, economic efficiency, carcass traits and blood metabolites efficiency of ossimi sheep

Abstract EN

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different management systems (Intensive and semi-intensive systems) and using Zeolite substance as growth promoting on growth performance of Ossimi male lamb's, carcass traits, blood metabolites and economic efficiency.

Twenty male lambs at 6 months of age were divided randomly to two groups (ten lambs per each group) were fed individually.

Frist group lambs were reared on semi-intensive management system.

The second group of lambs was reared on intensive management system.

Every management system was divided into two feeding group (five lambs per each group), first group was fed on diet containing 0% Zeolite (control diet) according to NRC (2007) recommendations and the second group was fed on diet containing 1% Zeolite (treatment group).

All experimental lambs in each group weighed fasting individually to the nearest kilogram monthly till the end of experimental period (120 days).

Both of the consumed diets and refusals, if any, were recorded daily.

Body weight gain, average daily gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and economic efficiency were then calculated.

At the end of the fattening period six male lambs from each group were slaughtered for carcass evaluation.

Furthermore, blood samples were collected and analyzed.

Results showed that intensive management system lambs group fed on diet containing 1% Zeolite had a better growth performance, carcass traits, blood metabolites and economic efficiency of lambs and it had higher advantages without adverse effect on the studied traits.