alireza aghashahi; alireza Ashkvari; Hasan Fazaeli; Hasan Khamisabadi; Mehdi Eftekhari
Abstract
Objective: It is very important to choose an optimal and principled method for producing silage from high-moisture food materials such as fodder beet for use in animal nutrition. This study was conducted with the aim of qualitative assessment the preparation of fodder beet silage as total mixed and partial ...
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Objective: It is very important to choose an optimal and principled method for producing silage from high-moisture food materials such as fodder beet for use in animal nutrition. This study was conducted with the aim of qualitative assessment the preparation of fodder beet silage as total mixed and partial mixed ration and investigating their effect in the diet of fattening calves.
Methods: Fodder beet cultivation and harvesting were carried out at the appropriate time (the root bulking stage – prior to the initiation of reproductive growth or seed production), and after initial sampling and determination of the chemical composition of the forage, total mixed and partial mixed ration silages were produced depending on the nutritional needs of fattening calves (Holstein and Holstein- Montbéliard crossbreeds). Twenty fattening male calves with an average weight of 287±25 kg were randomly and equally divided into two groups, each fed one of the experimental treatments containing total mixed and partial mixed ration silages. This study was conducted over a period of 110 days (90 days’ main period), during which the animals were weighed and samples of feed, feed residue, and feces were taken at 30-day intervals after adaptation period to assess daily weight gain, feed consumption, and digestibility.
Results: The visual and qualitative evaluation of silages showed that the preparation of fodder beet silage as a partial mixed ration had a lower pH and fleig point compared to total mixed ration, however, no difference was observed between the two treatments in terms of color, odor, and texture of silage. Changes in crude protein and ammonia nitrogen content indicated better conditions in the partial mixed ration silage (P<0.05). The intake of dry matter and crude protein was higher in partial mixed ration silage compared to total mixed ration(P<0.05). Nutrient digestibility in calves fed the partial mixed ration was superior and showed a significant difference compared to total mixed ration (P<0.05). The average initial and final weights of calves were not affected by the two treatments. Although the average daily weight gain was higher in the partial mixed ration (P<0.05), due to the higher dry matter intake, the feed conversion ratio was not statistically significant in the two treatments. Economic analysis of diets and performance of the fattening male calves showed that the income and profit from rearing male calves fed with fodder beet silage as a partial mixed ration were higher compared to total mixed ration (P<0.05).
Conclusions: The evaluation of the qualitative and visual conditions of silage showed that although both methods of preparing silage as total mixed and partial mixed ration achieved acceptable conditions and can be used to preserve high-moisture forages in livestock farming, but the qualitative performance of silage production was better in partial mixed ration mode. The intake and digestibility of nutrients in lambs fed with partial mixed ration were better compared to total mixed ration silage, and considering the greater daily weight gain of fattening male calves in this group and the greater profit achieved in this treatment, it seems that depending on the breeding conditions and if labor is available, partial mixed ration silage can be used compared to feeding livestock with total mixed ration silage. Overall, due to the limited existing research, further complementary studies are recommended to confirm these findings and to assess their effects on different livestock species.
Hamed Gholami; Taghi Ghoorchi; Abdolhakim Toghdory
Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of replacing corn silage with sorghum silage on digestibility, production performance, blood parameters and feeding behaviors of Holstein dairy cows, which the forage sorghum varieties used were equivalent to corn in terms of yield under ...
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Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of replacing corn silage with sorghum silage on digestibility, production performance, blood parameters and feeding behaviors of Holstein dairy cows, which the forage sorghum varieties used were equivalent to corn in terms of yield under the best conditions.
Research method: For this purpose, sorghum silage of the Speedfeed variety was replaced with corn silage of the Single Cross 704 variety at ratios of zero (control), 33, 66 and 100%. Eight lactating cows with an average milk production of 34.5 kg per day were assigned in a Latin square experimental design with 4 treatments and 8 replications (repeated in 4 21-day periods) which was carried out in Semnan province, Shahrood county, Meighan village in the Koohpayeh dairy complex.
Findings: In this study, the results showed that there was no significant difference in dry matter intake between the treatments; However, all levels of substitution except for protein, which had digestibility equal to corn silage, decreased digestibility in dry matter intake, organic matter, fat, and NDF (P<0.05). Although milk production in the control treatment (containing 100% corn silage) was significantly higher than in the other treatments (P<0.05), there was no significant difference in milk production efficiency (kg of corrected milk produced per kg of dry matter intake) between the groups receiving the experimental diets. Milk fat percentage and fat to protein ratio were significantly higher in the treatment containing 100% sorghum silage than in the other treatments (P<0.05). In this study, the use of speed-feed sorghum silage significantly increased the amount of beneficial unsaturated fatty acids (P<0.05). Also, the highest eating and rumination time was related to the control treatment (containing 100% corn silage) and the lowest time was related to the 100% sorghum silage treatment (P<0.05). Since the more chewing and rumination activity, the less rest time is left for the animal, it seems that the level of comfort was higher in the treatments consuming sorghum silage.
Conclusion: The results of the study showed that sorghum silage can be fed to lactating Holstein cows as a complete alternative to corn silage without adverse effects on animal performance, but with positive effects on milk unsaturated fatty acids. This forage can be an excellent choice for dairy farms in arid and desert areas where corn cultivation is difficult due to water shortages. On the other hand, the cost of producing sorghum is significantly lower than corn.
Ali Reza Ghiasvand; Hassan Shirzadi; Hossein Ali Ghasemi; Kamran Taherpour; Shokoufeh Hasanvand; Ali Khatibjoo
Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the optimal arginine level in the diet of Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) and evaluate its effects on growth performance, feed efficiency, and carcass yield using broken-line and quadratic regression models.
Method: For this purpose, a total ...
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Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the optimal arginine level in the diet of Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) and evaluate its effects on growth performance, feed efficiency, and carcass yield using broken-line and quadratic regression models.
Method: For this purpose, a total of 600 twenty-one-day-old Japanese quail chicks were divided into five different treatments with digestible arginine levels of 0.75%, 1.00%, 1.25%, 1.50%, and 1.75%. Six replicates were used for each treatment, with 20 quails per replicate. The experimental diets were similar in all essential nutrients except for arginine. The experiment was conducted from day 21 to day 35, and during the experimental period, various performance parameters, including body weight gain, feed efficiency, and carcass yield, were measured. Additionally, the effects of different arginine levels on the chemical composition of breast and thigh meat were evaluated.
Results: The results indicated that increasing arginine levels had a significant impact on body weight gain and feed efficiency in the quails (P<0.05). Specifically, the 1.25% arginine treatment showed the greatest body weight gain and feed efficiency compared to the other treatments (P<0.05). This treatment showed a significant difference compared to the 0.75% and 1.00% treatments (P<0.05), with no significant difference compared to the 1.50% arginine treatment. No significant changes in feed intake were observed (P>0.05), indicating that greater arginine levels improved feed utilization efficiency due to increased body weight gain. To estimate the arginine requirement, both broken-line linear and quadratic regression models were employed. The broken-line linear model with a single slope identified breakpoints at 1.15% for body weight gain and 1.21% for feed efficiency. Additionally, the quadratic broken-line model predicted breakpoints at 1.30% for body weight gain and 1.29% for feed efficiency. The quadratic regression model showed that at 1.37% arginine, the greatest body weight gain was observed, and at 1.36%, the greatest feed efficiency was recorded. For carcass yield, the 1.25% arginine treatment showed the greatest carcass yield on day 35, with a significant difference compared to the 0.75% and 1.75% treatments. Both broken-line and quadratic regression models indicated that the optimal arginine level for the greatest carcass yield was approximately 1.12% and 1.26%, respectively. Additionally, the quadratic regression model predicted that the optimal level for carcass yield was 1.32% arginine. However, the chemical composition of breast and thigh meat was not affected by the arginine levels, and no significant changes in dry matter, organic matter, and ash content were observed.
Conclusions: The results of this study indicated that the use of broken-line linear and quadratic regression models are effective tools for accurately estimating the arginine requirement in the diet of Japanese quails. Based on the findings, it is recommended that the optimal arginine level for improving growth performance and carcass yield in Japanese quails was set between 1.15% and 1.37%. These findings can contribute to optimizing dietary formulations in the quail farming industry, improving production efficiency, and reducing feed costs.
Tahere Amirabadi Farahani
Abstract
Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of feeding a close-up premix on the incidence of retained placenta and other metabolic disorders, milk yield, and reproductive performance of Holstein dairy cows.
Methods: A total of 190 multiparous Holstein cows (Farm 1 = 94 cows, Farm ...
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Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of feeding a close-up premix on the incidence of retained placenta and other metabolic disorders, milk yield, and reproductive performance of Holstein dairy cows.
Methods: A total of 190 multiparous Holstein cows (Farm 1 = 94 cows, Farm 2 = 96 cows) with similar parity, body condition score, and previous lactation milk yield were enrolled in the study 21 days before the expected calving date. The cows were randomly assigned to one of two dietary treatments: cows fed the herd’s close-up diet (control group) and cows received a premix, which replaced 7.5% DM of the basal diet (Power Close). The premix contained protein supplements, macro and micro minerals, vitamins, and additives. The sex and weight of calves were determined immediately after calving, and the amount of colostrum produced at the first milking was recorded. Milk yield and composition were recorded monthly at each milking within 150 DIM, and milk samples were collected monthly to measure milk composition. The incidence of metabolic disorders including dystocia, retained placenta, milk fever, ketosis, displaced abomasum, metritis, clinical endometritis, and culling were recorded within 60 DIM. Reproductive factors such as calving interval to first insemination, pregnancy rates at first and second insemination, pregnancy rate, number of inseminations per pregnancy, and open days were recorded.
Results: The results of this study indicated that feeding Power Close during the close-up period significantly reduced the incidence of retained placenta (P < 0.05) and ketosis (P 0.05). Additionally, the incidence of metritis and culling tended to decrease in cows fed Power Close compared to the control group. However, the incidence of other metabolic disorders, including dystocia, milk fever, displaced abomasum, and endometritis was not significantly affected. Colostrum yield during the first milking (P 0.05), milk yield (P < 0.05), and 4% fat-corrected milk yield (P 0.05) were higher in cows fed Power Close compared to the control group. However, milk fat content was lower in the Power Close group than in the control group (P < 0.05). Calf birth weight and reproductive parameters, including the number of inseminations per conception, conception rate in the first and second inseminations, and pregnancy rate up to 150 days in milk were not affected by Power Close supplementation. However, the interval to first insemination and days open were reduced in cows fed Power Close compared to those fed the control diet (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that feeding Power Close during the transition period can effectively reduce the incidence of retained placenta, metritis, and culling within the first 60 days of lactation, while also increasing colostrum and milk production. However, despite its positive effect on the average days open, it did not significantly impact pregnancy rate.
Nooshin Assadi-Fakhrnejad; Ali Assadi-Alamouti; Behzad Khorrami
Abstract
Objective: Forage harvesting at an appropriate stage of maturity is a key factor determining the productivity and nutritional quality of ensiled forages, improving silage fermentation, and reducing its loss. Likewise, forage intercropping strategies targeting the advantage of the additive characteristics ...
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Objective: Forage harvesting at an appropriate stage of maturity is a key factor determining the productivity and nutritional quality of ensiled forages, improving silage fermentation, and reducing its loss. Likewise, forage intercropping strategies targeting the advantage of the additive characteristics of different plant species improve the quality of the forage product. This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of forage maturity at harvest and intercropping on ensiling characteristics, effluent production, and in vitro (laboratory) digestibility in three small-grain forages (barley, triticale and oat).
Method: In this study, whole plant barley was harvested at early heading and hard dough stage of growth; whole plant triticale was harvested at the tillering and soft dough stage, and the oats forage were harvested at the tillering and stem elongation stages. The intercropping treatments consisted of 53% barley, 33% triticale, and 14% oat, and were harvested at the above-mentioned stages. The experimental design was a 2×4 factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design with eight treatments and three replicates.
Results: The results showed that with the progress of growth stages, dry matter, organic matter, and crude protein yields increased in triticale, oat, and mixed-crop treatments. The highest dry matter (32.1%) was observed in the mixed crop in the second harvest stage, and the lowest (13.5%) was observed in the first stage in oats (p<0.001). The highest crude protein (19.3 %) was obtained from oats in the first harvest, and the lowest (10.8%) from barley in the second harvest stage (p<0.001). The lowest NDF content was observed in oats (49.5%) and the highest in barley (58.2%) (p<0.001). The interaction effect of forage type and harvest time on dry matter, crude protein, and ADF contents was significant, while other chemical components such as crude ash, lignin, acid-, and neutral-detergent insoluble nitrogen, crude fat, and water soluble carbohydrates (WSC) were similar in both harvest stages. Overall, harvesting at a later stage increased lignin and decreased crude protein, WSC, and NDF. Interestingly, the intercropping of oats with the other crops increased crude protein and improved digestibility in vitro, while decreasing silage NDF content. The silages of the second harvest crops had no effluent production. They also had an appropriate pH (close to 4.2) and an ammonia nitrogen level of less than 10% total nitrogen, demonstrating improved fermentation in silages with higher dry matter content.
Conclusions: The results suggested the second harvesting stage (hard dough in barley, soft dough in triticale, and stem elongation in oats) as the suitable times for harvesting small grain forages in the current study, whether ensiled as a sole forage or intercropped, because they increased the yield of organic matter, CP, energy, and digestible dry matter per hectare. Considering the greater yield performance of triticale compared to barley, it is suggested to incorporate triticale as the main crop in intercropping systems.
Maedeh Darkaleh; Zarbakht Ansari Pirsaraei; Essa Dirandeh; Mohammad Kazemifard
Abstract
Objective: Heat stress is one of the most challenging environmental stressors in the poultry industry, as it leads to reduced feed intake, body weight, and carcass quality, suppresses immune system activity, and consequently increases flock mortality. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects ...
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Objective: Heat stress is one of the most challenging environmental stressors in the poultry industry, as it leads to reduced feed intake, body weight, and carcass quality, suppresses immune system activity, and consequently increases flock mortality. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of basil and parsley seed powders on growth performance, carcass traits, the relative gene expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in blood and interleukin-two (IL-2) in liver tissue, as well as selected blood parameters of broiler chickens under heat-stress conditions.
Method: A total of 150 male Ross 308 broiler chicks were selected and weighed, then distributed into a completely randomized design consisting of five treatments with three replicates and 10 chickens per replicate. The experimental treatments included: 1) control (basal diet without basil or parsley seed powder); 2) basal diet supplemented with three g/kg basil seed powder; 3) basal diet supplemented with three g/kg parsley seed powder; 4) basal diet supplemented with 1.5 g/kg basil seed powder + 1.5 g/kg parsley seed powder; and 5) basal diet supplemented with neomycin as a positive control (0.2% in the drinking water). To induce heat stress, the temperature of the rearing house was set to 32°C for six hours daily from days 21 to 35. Performance traits (body weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio (FCR)) were measured throughout the trial. At the end of the experiment, three birds per replicate (closest to the treatment mean body weight) were selected, weighed, and slaughtered to evaluate carcass characteristics, blood biochemical parameters (glucose, cholesterol, HDL, triglycerides), and the relative expression of target genes (HSP70 in blood and IL-2 in liver tissue).
Results: The treatments had no significant effect on feed intake and weight gain; however; the FCR during days 1 to 35 was lowest in the neomycin group (P<0.05). No significant differences were observed among treatments for blood biochemical parameters. Supplementation with basil + parsley seed powder significantly affected gizzard weight and jejunum length compared with the control group (P<0.05). The relative expression of the HSP70 gene in blood was significantly reduced in the basil, parsley, and basil+parsley groups compared with the control and neomycin groups. The relative expression of the IL-2 gene in liver tissue was highest in the basil+parsley group and lowest in the control group (P<0.05).
Conclusions: Overall, this study indicates that the supplementation with basil and parsley seed powders in the diet of broiler chickens under heat stress conditions can reduce the relative expression of the HSP70 gene and increase the relative expression of the IL-2 gene in the birds.
Maryam Karimi- Zandi; Hassan Shirzadi; Ghasemi, Hossein Ali; Mohammad Amir Karimi-Torshizi; Kamran Taherpour; Enayat Rahmatnejad
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a toxin binder and organic acids on growth performance, serum lipid profile, health indices, carcass traits, and meat quality of broiler chickens challenged with aflatoxin B1 and Clostridium perfringens.
Methods: A total of 420 one-day-old as hatched ...
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Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a toxin binder and organic acids on growth performance, serum lipid profile, health indices, carcass traits, and meat quality of broiler chickens challenged with aflatoxin B1 and Clostridium perfringens.
Methods: A total of 420 one-day-old as hatched Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly assigned to 7 treatment groups, each with 6 replicates of 10 birds. The treatments were as follows: Control – basal diet without additives or challenges; A – basal diet, challenged with aflatoxin; AM – basal diet with toxin binder, challenged with aflatoxin; AMO – basal diet with toxin binder and organic acids, challenged with aflatoxin; ACP – basal diet, challenged with aflatoxin and C. perfringens; ACPM – basal diet with toxin binder, challenged with aflatoxin and C. perfringens; and ACPMO – basal diet with toxin binder and organic acids, challenged with aflatoxin and C. perfringens. Aflatoxin B1 (500 ppb) was administered throughout the trial. C. perfringens (1×108 cfu/mL) was introduced from day 15 for ten consecutive days. Both the toxin binder and organic acids were added at 0.2% of the basal diet.
Results: Aflatoxin challenge significantly reduced specific growth rate and energy efficiency ratio (P<0.05). Supplementation with a toxin binder, either alone or combined with organic acids, alleviated these negative effects. The simultaneous challenge with aflatoxin and C. perfringens further decreased energy and protein efficiency ratios as well as specific growth rate (P<0.05). The toxin binder alone improved specific growth rate, while its combination with organic acids enhanced both energy and protein efficiency ratios. The combined challenge increased serum Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) level (P<0.05). The inclusion of toxin binder lowered these values, and its effect was more pronounced when used with organic acids. Diets containing toxin binder also decreased the LDL to high-density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio, atherogenic coefficient, and cardiac risk ratio in aflatoxin- and C. perfringens -challenged birds (P<0.05). Supplementation with both toxin binders and organic acids elicited superior improvements in these physiological indices relative to the toxin binder alone. Aflatoxin and dual challenges increased cooking loss in the pectoralis major muscle and reduced press loss and dry matter content in both pectoralis major and thigh muscles (P<0.05). Aflatoxin exposure alone increased the relative weight of the heart (P<0.05). The combined challenge reduced breast weight and increased heart and liver weights (P<0.05). The combined use of toxin binders and organic acids elicited the most pronounced improvements in these traits relative to the toxin binder alone.
Conclusion: Supplementing broiler diets with a toxin binder is a beneficial strategy when feed contamination with aflatoxin occurs. In cases of concurrent C. perfringens infection, the combined use of toxin binder and organic acids provides superior protection and performance benefits.
Hadis Heydari; Ali Khatibjoo; Hassan Shirzadi; Mohammad-Amir Karimi-Torshizi; Jabbar Jamali
Abstract
Objective: Body weight is increased 2- to 3-fold during the first week, and considerable changes in gut and muscle weight and morphology are observed. Gastrointestinal development plays an essential role in the early stages of chick growth. Delayed feeding in the first few days of life reduces final ...
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Objective: Body weight is increased 2- to 3-fold during the first week, and considerable changes in gut and muscle weight and morphology are observed. Gastrointestinal development plays an essential role in the early stages of chick growth. Delayed feeding in the first few days of life reduces final BW and probably affects gut health and immune function. Probiotics, classified as live microbial feed additives, constitute a functional nutritional approach, whereby establishing a healthy microbial environment and improved intestinal function in young chicks are pursued through administering adequate quantities of live beneficial microorganisms. In this sense, the use of dietary probiotics has been shown to stimulate mucosal immunity, pathogen inhibition, performance, and modulation of intestinal microflora of young or stressed broilers. It seems that probiotic affects broiler growth performance and intestinal growth under late feeding challenge.
Method: In this experiment, the effect of probiotic levels on performance, blood metabolites and small intestine morphology of broiler chickens exposed to late feeding challenge (LFD) were considered. In a completely randomized design, a 3×3 factorial arrangement with 3 levels of probiotic (0, 0.2 and 0.4 g/kg feed) and 3 LFD time (0-, 12- and 24-h), 450 Ross-308 broiler chickens (one-d-old, mixed sexes) were allocated to 9 treatments, 5 replicates and 10 birds in each replicate.
Results: At the end of starter period, broiler chickens fed greater level of probiotics and immediately access to feed had the greatest BW and BWG while those with 24h LFC and greater level of probiotic had the lowest BW; and at the end of experiment, broiler chickens fed 0.2 g/kg probiotics with 12h LFC and those fed greater level of probiotics and immediately access to feed had the lowest FI, BW and BWG (P < 0.05). 24h LFC had no significant effect on chickens’ distribution parameters at 10d age and carcass parameters at 42d age. Broiler chickens fed 0.4 g/kg probiotics at 12- and 24h LFC had the lowest triglyceride and glucose concentration respectively and at this level of probiotic with 0- LFC the lowest count of E.Coli was observed while 12 and 24h LFC decreased bifidobacteria count (P < 0.05). Thoese broiler chickens fed diets contatning 0 or 0.2 g/kg probiotic showed an increase in villous height as LFC time increased. Broiler chickens fed 0.2 g/kg probiotic diet with 12h LFC, had the greatest villous surface area (P < 0.05).
Conclusions: In conclusion, in this experiment, 12- and 24h DP decreased broiler chickens’ performance and intestinal morphometry and double recommended probiotic supplementation could not completely ameliorate the negative effects of LFC.
Yosef Amjadian; Fardin Hozhabri; Mohmmad nooriyan soroor; Khodabakhsh Rashidi
Abstract
Objectives: Variation in starch structure leads to different ruminal degradation rates among cereal grains such as barley, corn, and wheat, and these differences play a key role in determining rumen metabolism, growth, and overall performance in ruminants. The rate of starch fermentation in the rumen, ...
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Objectives: Variation in starch structure leads to different ruminal degradation rates among cereal grains such as barley, corn, and wheat, and these differences play a key role in determining rumen metabolism, growth, and overall performance in ruminants. The rate of starch fermentation in the rumen, in turn, modulates rumen pH, volatile fatty acid production, feed intake, growth responses, and rumen development.Given the generally superior production performance of wheat relative to barley, its higher starch concentration (approximately 10% greater), and evidence of enhanced starch digestibility compared with barley and corn, a critical need exists to assess the potential for substituting wheat for barley and corn in diets of finishing lambs.
Methods: Twenty-four male Mehraban lambs (body weight of 40.3±4.46 kg) were allocated to a completely randomized design comprising four dietary treatments. The experimental diets were: 1) 58% barley grain, 2) 29% barley grain + 29% corn grain, 3) 58% corn grain, and 4) 58% wheat grain. Across these treatments, growth performance (average daily gain, total body weight gain, and feed intake), nutrient digestibility, Protozoa population, ruminal fermentation parameters (pH, ammonia nitrogen, and volatile fatty acids), and post-mortem histomorphometric traits of the small intestine were assessed.
Results: Lamb growth performance did not differ significantly among the four dietary treatments. Dry matter digestibility was greatest in the wheat-based diet and lowest in the barley-based diet, whereas crude protein digestibility was higher in lambs receiving the barley-based diet than in those fed corn- or wheat-based diets (P<0.05). Ammonia nitrogen concentration was elevated in the wheat-based treatment compared with the other groups (P<0.05). Total volatile fatty acid concentrations were higher in lambs offered wheat- and barley-based diets than in the remaining treatments, with the lowest values recorded in the corn-based diet (P<0.05). The proportion of acetic acid was higher in the corn-based diet than in the barley- and wheat-based diets, and lambs fed the wheat-based diet showed the lowest acetic acid percentage (P<0.05). Concentrations of propionic, butyric, and isobutyric acids were reduced in lambs fed the corn-based diet relative to the other treatments, while the highest proportions occurred in the wheat or barley based diets (P<0.05). Total rumen protozoa and Entodinium counts were greater in lambs consuming wheat or barley + corn diets than in the other treatments, with maximal values in the wheat-based diet (P<0.05). Duodenal villus length was greater in lambs receiving the corn and barley + corn diets (P<0.05), whereas duodenal villus depth was reduced in the wheat-fed group (P<0.05). Ileal villus width was highest in the wheat-containing diets and lowest in the barley-based diets (P<0.05), while ileal crypt depth was lower in lambs fed wheat- and corn-based diets than in those receiving the other treatments (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The experiment found that lamb growth performance was similar across diets containing the three different grains. However, the wheat-based diet showed higher apparent digestibility, indicating that in fattening lamb diets, wheat can be substituted with barley or corn without affecting growth.
Keywords:
Volatile fatty acids,
Average daily gain,
Intestinal villi,
Protozoa,
Starch
Keywords: Volatile fatty acids, Average daily gain, Intestinal villi, Protozoa, Starch.
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