Study of different ratios effect of forage to concentrate on performance and carcass traits of Zel fattening lambs

Document Type : Full Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Animal Science, Qaemshahr branch, Islamic Azad University

2 Department of Animal Science, Qaemshahr branch, Islamic Azad University, Qaemshahr, Iran

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the most effective ratio of forage to concentrate on feed intake, body weight, feed conversion ratio, and quality and quantity of carcasses of male Zel fattening lambs. The present study was performed using 20 male Zel lambs aged 16 weeks with an average weight of 27.8 kg for 90 days in a completely randomized design with four treatments and five repeats. Experimental treatments included different ratios of forage to concentrate at 20:80, 30:70, 40:60, and 50:50. The research data were analyzed by LSmeans procedure and regression in SAS software. Effect of different ratios of forage to concentrate on all yield traits (P <0.01), slaughter weight (P <0.05), weight gain during feeding period (P <0.05), daily weight gain (P <0.05), feed intake (P <0.01), feed conversion ratio (P <0.01), the weight of gastrointestinal contents (P <0.05), hot and cold carcass weight (P <0.05), carcass percentage (P <0.05) and thickness Backfat was significant (P <0.05). The change in the mentioned traits was observed linearly, increasing the concentration ratio to forage (P <0.01). As the percentage of concentrate in the feed increases feed intake increases. Due to the higher energy and nutrient content of concentrate than forage, lambs that consumed more concentrate had higher body weight and slaughter weight. Based on the results for optimal performance in fattening lambs, a ration with a ratio of forage to concentrate equal to (50:50) is recommended.

Keywords

References

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History

  • Receive Date: 31 May 2021
  • Revise Date: 20 September 2021
  • Accept Date: 21 September 2021

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