ABSTRACT
The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of treating rice straw bales by enzymes (ZAD) or effective microorganisms (EM) on milk production, milk composition, some blood parameters and live body weight of ewes and growth performance of their lambs and economic efficiency.
Forty-five Ossimi ewes (41.05±2 kg live body weight and 3.5±0.3 years old) at last month of pregnancy were divided into three similar groups (15 each) according to their parity, body weight and age. The first group served as control (G1) and fed 60 % concentrate feed mixture (CFM) plus 40% untreated rice straw (RS). The second group (G2) fed 40% CFM plus 60% RS treated with ZAD and the third group (G3) fed 40% CFM plus 60% treated RS with EM for 105 days (feeding periods). Results showed that total milk yield was significantly (p<0.05) lower with both treated rice straw rations (G2 and G3) than control one (G1), being 32.78 and 32.22 vs 33.95 kg, respectively. However, milk protein was significantly (p<0.05) higher with G3 than G2 group and insignificantly higher than that of control group. While there were non-significant differences among the dietary treatments in respect of the other milk constituents. Lambs performance (birth weight, total gain, daily gain and weaning weight) did not significantly affected by dietary treatments, but estimates were slightly lower for the two tested rations than control one. Blood parameters not affected by ZAD or EM treatments. Economic efficiency of treated rice straw roups had better values than G1 (55.63 and 56.40 vs. 41.09%), respectively. The improved economic efficiency by treating rice straw with ZAD or EM due to decreasing feed cost for both tested rations compared to the control one.