Investigation the possibility of ensiling pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) residue and use it in the diet of finishing buffalo calves.
2008
Razzaq Zadeh, Sarain | Faza`eli, Hassan | Amini, Jahan Gir | Mohsen Pur Azari, Ali
Pumpkin residue (PR) is a by-product remained after pumpkin seeds collection and its disposal create environmental problem. However, it is rich carbohydrate substance and may be used as animal feed. The present study aimed to investigate the silage characteristics of the by-product and its use in the diet of buffalo calves. In a completely randomized design, five experimental formula including: 1). PR+ wheat straw (WS), 71.4:28.62). PR+WS+ beet molasses (BM), 71.4:28.6:103). PR+WS+BM, 71.4:28.6:204). PR+WS+BM+ Urea (U), 71.4:28.6:10:5 and 5). PR+WS+BM+U, 71.4:28.6:20:5., were ensiled (each with 5 replicates) for two months. The average DM content and pH of the silages were 28.4, 7.6134.7, 6.5430.4, 4.8530.2, 6.31 and 30.9, 6.24 for the formula 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively which were significantly (P0.05) varied between the treatments, among them, treatment 3 showed the best silage characteristics. In a second experiment, a mixture of PR+WS+BM+U (70:30:50:1) were ensiled and used in the diet of buffalo calves. In a completely randomized design, 24 yearling buffalo male calves with 203±27.9 Kg initial weight were used to estimate their feeding performances with four finishing diets. The diets were: 1). 57% concentrate(c) + 18.5% WS+ 24.5% alfalfa(A) + 0.0 silage(S)2). 57%C+ 21%WS+ 17.5%A+ 4.5S3). 57%C+ 23.5%WS+ 10%A+ 9.5S4). 57%C+ 26%WS+ 3%A+ 14S. During the 120 days of feeding trial, average daily gain were 760, 688, 801 and 791 g for the diets 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively, which were not significantly different. The average dry mater intake was 6.25, 6.4, 7. 4 and 7.7 kg respectively, which were not significantly, varied among the diets. Feed conversion ratio was 8.8, 9.6, 9.2 and 9.6 respectively, which did not show any significant variation among the treatments. It can be concluded that pumpkin residue could be ensiled with addition of wheat straw as an absorbentbeet molasses as fermentable additive and urea as nitrogen enrichment and used up to 14% of the finishing diets in ruminants.
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