Effect of Fruit and Vegetable Wastes on Quantitive and Qualitive of Wool and Skin of Male Lambs.

The effect of diet containing 33, 66 and 100 percent fruit and vegetable wastes (FVW) instate alfalfa on wool, skin and leather performances was assessed in comparison to conventional diet in lambs. Forty eight Moghani male lambs at 4.5 months of age and average weight 31.1( 1) kg were treatment randomly into four groups (4 lambs/group) for 105 days. At the end of experimental period, body weight, fleece weight, staple length, wool, medullated and kemp percentage and mechanical characteristics of fibers were measured. The skin and leather traits include weight, surface, thickness, physical and mechanical performance of leather were determined. Sulfur, CU and Zn content of diet, serum, wool and skin were assessed. The body and fleece weight was lowest (P 0.05) in animals fed 100 % FVW, which was comparable to the other groups. No significant response of wool trays was found by diet with exception for staple length and wool breaking load. The skin weight was higher in the control group but only had significantly (P0.01) with lambs consumed 100 % FVW. The skin weight and surface were significantly (P0.05) higher at level of 33 % and 66 % than 100 % of FVW. The thickness on shoulder, hip, flank, rip and belly parts of skin were 1.7 0.1, 2.0 0.1, 1.5 0.1, 1.6 0.1 and 1.0 0.1 mm respectively. Skin thickness was higher in lambs of control group but significantly (P0.05) only in flank sites with the skin lambs of treatment groups. There was found significantly (P0.05) higher weight and thickness of leather in lambs at level of 33 % FVW. The range of breaking load, tensile strength and percentage extension of leather were 5.4 to 37.6 kg, 46.1 to 294.3 kg/cm-2 and 34.4 to 125.9 % respectively. The lowest single and double edge tear load (1.9 0.1 and 4.0 0.3 kg/mm) related to leather of lambs at level 100 % of FVW. The sulfur content of diet, serum, wool and skin were 1.0 to 1.8, 0.3 to 0.8, 2.3 to 5.5 and 1.0 to 2.0 % respectively. The sulfur content of serum was lowest (P0.05) at level 100 % of FVW. The lowest S and highest Cu of wool were found in control group. The Zn content of wool in lambs were used 33 % of FVW was significantly different compared with rest groups (P0.05). The Cu contents of serum, wool and skin were 0.58 0.05, 6.10 0.4 and 3.35 0.4 ppm respectively. It was concluded that diet with less than 60 % of FVW did not negative effect on lamb production. Therefore suggest fruit and vegetable waste could serve as excellent source of nutrients for ruminants and can economize the production of animals. Key words: Moghani lamb - Fruit and vegetable residue Fleece weight Wool - Skin -leather