Effect of ensiled urea treated apple pomace on performance and carcass characteristics of Ghezel lambs

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 MSc., Agricultural University of Shiraz, Shiraz, Iran

2 Assistance Professor, Agricultural University of Shiraz, Shiraz, Iran

3 Professor, Agricultural University of Shiraz, Shiraz, Iran

Abstract

The effects of different levels (0, 10, 20 and 30 percentage of dry matter) of apple pomace ensiled with urea were investigated on 24 Ghezel male lambs in a completely randomized design with four treatments and six replicates. The average starting weight and age of the lambs were 31.27 ± 7.40 and 187 ± 37 days, respectively. After 15 days of adaptation, the lambs were individually fed with experimental diets for 70 days. Daily feed intake was measured individually and the lambs were weighted at the beginning and the end of the experiment after an overnight feed and water withdrawal. Average daily gain and feed intake, and feed conversion ratio were calculated. At the end of the experiment, lambs were slaughtered and the warm and cold carcass and other cuts were weighed. There were no significant differences among treatments in term of average daily gain, dry matter intake, feed conversion ratio, warm and cold dressing percentage. Percentage of internal organs fat was not statistically different among the treatments. The results showed that, including apple pomace ensiled with urea into the diet of fattening Ghezel male lambs is recommendable as a replacement for alfalafa hay.

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History

  • Receive Date: 10 May 2012
  • Revise Date: 06 October 2014
  • Accept Date: 13 November 2012

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