Effect of Prangos ferulacea replacement for alfalfa on growth performance and carcass characteristics of Lori lambs
2008
Azarfard, F. (Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center (Iran))
This study was conducted to determine the effect of replacement of alfalfa hay (Medicago sativa) with Prangos ferulacea hay on growth performance and carcass characteristics of fattening Lori lambs. Alfalfa hay was replaced with P. ferulacea hay at 0 (diet 1), 35 (diet 2), 60 (diet 3), and 100% (diet 4) levels on a dry matter basis, in the ration of fattening lambs. Each ration was fed to 10 three-month-old Lori lambs over a period of 84 days. Average dry matter intake (DMI; kg day-1), average daily gain (ADG; g day-1) and feed conversion (F/G) ratios of lambs fed diets 1, 2, 3 and 4 were 1.23, 1.27, 1.25 and 1.30; 230.1, 215, 220 and 211; and 5.34, 5.90, 5.68 and 6.16, respectively. There was no difference (P greater than 0.05) between four diets for the DMI, ADG and F/G. Replacement of alfalfa hay with P. ferulacea hay did not affect (P greater than 0.05) the carcass meat and bone percentage. However, fat tail percentage differed (P less than 0.01) among various rations. At present costs, the inclusion of P. ferulacea in the ration of fattening lambs seems to be cost effective.
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