ABSTRACT
Aiming to complete evaluation of feeding on reed forage, this study concerned with measuring changes in carcass characteristics and blood profile due to feeding reed either fresh (RF), silage (RS) or hay (RH) to Rahmani growing lambs. Changes in most tested blood parameters were not significantly affected by type of feeds tested. But, hemoglobin (Hb), mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and lymphocytes were significantly more with RS than RH. The same trend was noticed for total protein and globulin. The other blood parameters tested did not show preference for any of the tested diets. Carcass cuts show significant (P < 0.05) increase in shoulder and legs weight of groups fed RS or RF compared to RH and Berseem hay (BH). The prime cuts in general was heavier with RS followed by RF then estimates with RH and BH were significantly less. Weight of 9-11th ribs cut was increased with RS (530g) and RF (524g) than BH (479g) and RH (462g). Thus meat weight was significantly higher with both of RS and RF compared with BH and RH. The same trend was observed with fat weight. The animals fed RH ration had the lowest eye muscle area, while the largest area was recorded with RS where difference was significant between RH and RS only. Accordingly, reed in general has slight better but sure not less feeding values reflected on carcass and blood parameters when fed as silage compared to BH and other types of reed tested.