GABRA, M., HAFEZ, S. (2000). NUTRITIONAL STUDIES ON SOME CONSERVED LEGUMINOUS FORAGES FED TO SHEEP IN METABOLISM AND GROWTH TRIALS. Egyptian Journal of Agricultural Research, 78(1), 351-369. doi: 10.21608/ejar.2000.321698
MICHIL A. GABRA; SAMY I. HAFEZ. "NUTRITIONAL STUDIES ON SOME CONSERVED LEGUMINOUS FORAGES FED TO SHEEP IN METABOLISM AND GROWTH TRIALS". Egyptian Journal of Agricultural Research, 78, 1, 2000, 351-369. doi: 10.21608/ejar.2000.321698
GABRA, M., HAFEZ, S. (2000). 'NUTRITIONAL STUDIES ON SOME CONSERVED LEGUMINOUS FORAGES FED TO SHEEP IN METABOLISM AND GROWTH TRIALS', Egyptian Journal of Agricultural Research, 78(1), pp. 351-369. doi: 10.21608/ejar.2000.321698
GABRA, M., HAFEZ, S. NUTRITIONAL STUDIES ON SOME CONSERVED LEGUMINOUS FORAGES FED TO SHEEP IN METABOLISM AND GROWTH TRIALS. Egyptian Journal of Agricultural Research, 2000; 78(1): 351-369. doi: 10.21608/ejar.2000.321698
NUTRITIONAL STUDIES ON SOME CONSERVED LEGUMINOUS FORAGES FED TO SHEEP IN METABOLISM AND GROWTH TRIALS
Animal Production Research Institute, Agricultural Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt
Abstract
Egyptian clover, berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum L.), Alfalfa, lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) and cowpea ( Vigina sinensis L.) were sown in newly reclaimed soils. After cutting, the green forages were sun cured on ground in the open air to obtain hay for chemical analysis, metabolism and feeding trials. The losses of DM and nutritive values during drying process were calculated. Seven metabolism trials using mature sheep were carried out to determine the feeding values of hays and daily intake. Three growth trials were undertaken with Ossimi lambs fed hays ad libitum plus concentrate feed mixture (CFM) which was offered at 1% of body weight as follows: group A fed berseem hay (BH) + 1% CFM, group B fed alfalfa hay (AH) + 1% CFM and group C fed cowpea hay (CH) + 1 % CFM. Growth rate, feed intake and feed conversion efficiency were calculated during 98 days experimental period. Results showed significant differences (P<0.05) among the experimental hays in their contents of nutrients, energy, fiber fractions and minerals. The means of feeding values as TDN, SV, DCP and digestible energy (DE) were significantly the highest with AH than BH and CH. Daily DCP intake for adult sheep could fulfill protein requirements and still allows surplus for production, while, SV intake could not fulfill the energy requirements recognized for adult sheep. Losses of DM and CP yields were significantly the lowest in CH followed by AH and BH being 25.932.4% for DM and 40.8-54.5% for CP. However, losses of SV and DCP were significantly the lowest in AH followed by CH and B1-I being 45.854.4% and 30.0-60.5% for SV and DCP, respectively. Supplementation of CFM with different hays improved most nutrients digestibility and nutritive values of the tested rations. During the experimental period, the daily gains were 107, 122 and 89g for group A, B and C, respectively, with significant differences among groups. This trend was shown also with feed conversion which was significantly the hightest with group B than with groups A & C.