Effect of chamomile cake (Matricaria Chamomilla)‎ supplements on fattening lambs

Abstract EN

The effect of chamomile cake (flower after oil extraction) on Saaidy lambs growth performance, feed conversion, carcass traits, carcass cuts and chemical composition were studied.

Also, digestibility trails were conducted using rams.

The chamomile cake was included at a rate of 0, 15 and 30% of the tested rations replacing berseem hay forming three dietary treatments.

Eighteen Saaidy lambs with average live body weight of 19.0 + 0.5 kg at 4 months of age were used for 120 days feeding period.

Six animals were allotted per treatment.

Results revealed that chamomile cake improved dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE) and nitrogen free extract (NFE) digestibilities and energy nutritive values.

No effect on growth performance was detected.

DM intake/gain tended to decrease as the level of chamomile cake increased in the diet.

Insignificant effect on carcass traits were obtained, however dressing percentage increased significantly (P< 0.05) with lambs fed rations containing chamomile cake.

Carcass cuts showed insignificant differences with the exception that the tail weight and its percentage increased when the level of chamomile cake increased in the ration.

Economical evaluation was in favour of the 30% level supplementation regarding relative percentage of net revenue and relative percentage of cost of feed consumed.

In conclusion chamomile cake could be used economically and successfully for feeding lambs.