Productive performance of growing lambs fed silages of sugar cane tops, sugar beet leaves and green maize stems

Abstract EN

This study was conducted to investigate the performance and nutrient digestibility of sheep fed silage of green maize stems (SGMS), silage of sugar cane tops (SSCT), or silage of sugar beet leaves (SBLS) with concentrate feed mixture (CFM).

A total of 16 mature rams (40–45 kg live body weight) were used in digestibility trials using one way ANOVA.

Twenty four growing Saidi male lambs were used in growth trails.

Animals in each trail were randomly divided into four groups according to their body weight.

Four diets were used in both experiments.

Diet 1 (T1, CFM + berseem hay), diet 2 (T2, CFM + SGMS), diet 3 (T3, CFM + SSCT) and diet 4 (T4, CFM+SSBL).

The CFM was used in T1, T2, T3 and T4 as 3 % of live body weight.

Diets containing silage had lower dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF), ether extract (EE), and nitrogen free extract (NFE) digestibility coefficients compared to control diet.

There were differences (P > 0.01 and P > 0.001)in total digestible nutrient (TDN), digestible and crude protein (DCP) among the studied diets Results of nitrogen balance (NB),nitrogen absorption (NA), NB/NA and NB / total nitrogen consumed (TNC) were significant (P < 0.001) in favor of T1.

The average daily gain, feed conversion, dressing percentage and other carcass traits were nearly similar among the studied diets.

Sheep of T1 had the highest percentage of protein and the lowest percentage of fat in their carcasses meat compared to the other diets.