This experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of chemical (4%
urea), biological (Fungi Phanerochaete sp.) or urea plus fungi treatments on nutrients
digestibility and feeding values of corn cobs by-product. Sixteen crossbred Suffolk
male lambs (8 weeks old) with average live body weight of 19.5 kg were randomly
divided into four groups (4 lambs each) and were used to evaluate the four
experimental rations. The rations were composed of concentrate feed mixture (CFM)
to provide 60% of the recommended OM requirements for sheep (NRC, 1989). The
four experimental treatments were: T1- 60% CFM + corn cabs untreated ad-libitum
(ad-lib) (control ration). T2- 60% CFM + corn cabs treated (4%) urea, ad lib .. T3 - 60%
CFM + corn cabs treated fungi (Phanerochaete sp.), ad lib and T4- 60% CFM + corn
cabs treated urea plus fungi, ad lib. Four digestibility trails were carried out using
crossbred male lambs. Blood serum parameters for liver and kidney functions were
determined. The main results were as follow: 1- The OM, OM, CP and CF digestibilities differed among the four experimental
groups were significant (P<0.05), T4 (urea plus fungi) recorded the highest values,
while T1 (The control) recorded the lowest ones. 2- The nutritive value as TON in T4 treatment was significantly (P<0.05) increased
than control and chemical treated corn cobs, while OCP for the same treatement
was also higher (P<0.05) than all other treatments. 3- The total body gain (kg) of T1, T2 and T3 were nearly similar (25, 25.5 and 26)
respectively, but the T4 showed greater respective value (29 kg) and improved
feed conversion (9.36 DM kg Ikg gain). 4- The higher values of liver function estimates (Total protein, albumin, globulin,
Alkalin-phosphates, AST and AL T and kidney function (Urea-N and creatinine)
were recorded with urea plus fungi followed by fungi treatments compared to urea
and control treatments 5- Most of the blood serum parameters were within the range of the normal values for
healthy lambs. 6- Regarding the effect of sampling times all parameters significantly increased to
maximum level at day 165 after feeding. 7- Results obtained in this study showed that urea plus fungi treatment showed the
best digestibilities of most nutrients, nutritive values, feed intake, live body weight
and economic efficiency. It also kept most of blood serum parameters tested were
within the normal range. Therefore, using corn cobs treated with urea plus fungi in
lamb nutrition could be recommended as good feed quality and possible
replacement of traditional roughage and part of concentrates.