Growth performance of Shami kids fed a salt tolerant plant under semi-arid conditions in Sinai, Egypt

Abstract EN

This study aimed to investigate the effect of the using a salt tolerance plant (Koicha) as replacement to barseem hay in rations with different roughage: concentrate ratios for feeding Shami kids.

The study was carried out (during 2009) at South Sinai.

Twenty four male Shami kids (about six months old and 25 kg average live body weight) were employed.

The kids were divided into three groups (eight each) to study the effect of replacing barseem hay with Kochia indica within different roughage: concentrate ratio.

The three groups (G) were assigned to feed the following rations, 40% barseem hay: 60% concentrate feed mixture (CFM) for G1, 40% Kochia: 60% CFM for G2 and 60% Kochia: 40% CFM for G3.

Kochia was cultivated in salt-affected soil within the station and irrigated with underground salt water (about 6000 ppm).

The experiment lasted for four months.

The rations were offered once a day at morning and water was free choice.

Economic indicator was calculated as the return of kg gain according to the prevailing Egyptian local prices.

The results showed that the highest value of DM intake was obtained for G2 during the first two months (828 g/h/d and 80 g / kg w0.75).

The average daily gain (ADG) values were 83, 117 and 67 g/h for G1, G2 and G3, respectively.

The same trend was obtained during the second period.

During the whole period (four months), ADG in G2 of (125 g/h/d) was higher (P < 0.05) than those of G1 and G3 of 92 and 75 g/h/d, respectively.

The final body weight of kids was higher (P<0.05) in G2 (40 Kg) than those of G1 and G3 (36 and 34 kg, respectively).

The nutritive values in G2, measured as TDN and DCP were higher (P<0.05) (68.1 and 10.3, respectively) than those of G1 (64.3 and 9.9, respectively).

Feed conversion of both DM and TDN in G2 (14.42 and 9.76, respectively) were better than those in G3 (17.10 and 10.50, respectively).

Feed cost and economic indicator showed that kids in G2 had the highest feed cost and the highest return.

It conclusion feeding Shami kids on 40% koicha and 60% CFM has no adverse effect on ADG and tended to gain higher economic return.