ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to evaluate the partial replacement of berseem hay (BH) with agro-industrial strawberry by-product (SBP) on growth performance, digestion coefficients, feeding values, rumen parameters, some blood constituents and economic efficiency of Awassi lambs.. Eighteen lambs 17kg average weight and four months old were divided into three similar groups (six animals each) considering their body weight and assigned randomly to receive the experimental rations R1, R2 and R3 contained 0, 25 or 75% SBP, replacing BH , respectively. Randomized complete block design was used in this trail that lasted 120 days. Three digestibility trials were conducted to determine the digestibility and feeding values of the experimental rations.
Results indicated that DM digestibility of tested rations (R2 and R3) was higher significantly (P<0.05) than control ration (R1). While, CF digestibility of R3 was significantly higher than R1 and R2. The CP digestibility was significantly higher with R3 than control ration (R1), while R2 was slightly higher. No significant differences between tested rations and control in respect of OM, EE and NFE. Also, the values of TDN did not significantly affected by dietary treatments, but DCP values were significantly decreased with tested treatment compared with control one. Slight differences among dietary treatments were observed regarding final LBW, total gain and daily gain (growth performance). Feed conversion efficiency had nearly similar values, while the best result recorded with ration contained 25% SBP (R2) followed by 75% SBP (R3) and lastly control (R1). There were no significant differences in ruminal pH among rations, while the concentrations of ruminal NH3-N were significantly reduced with R3 but insignificantly reduced with R2. Inverse trend was occurred with TVFA's among treatments. Most blood parameter values appeared in favor of the dietary treatments vs. control one. Economic efficiency was improved in tested rations compared with control.
It could conclude that dried strawberry by-product could replace berseem hay, up to 70 %, in growing lambs rations without any adverse effect on productive performance and lambs health.