Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Department of Animal and Poultry Science, College of Abouraihan, University of Tehran
2 Department of Animal and Poultry Science, College of Abouraihan, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
3 Agricultural, Medical and Industrial Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, Karaj
Abstract
This study was conducted to investigate the chemical composition and nutritional characteristics of corn seeds exposed to gamma ray and the effect of
its silage feeding on performance of finishing male Zandi lambs. First, the germination characteristics of control and irradiated corn seeds with
different dosages of gamma ray (25, 50, 100, 150 and 200 gray) were measured. After determining the appropriate dose, corn seeds were irradiated
with gamma ray at 25 gray and cultivated in the field. At the end of the growth period, corn forage was harvested and ensiled in experimental and farm
silages. In addition, the effects of feeding experimental silages on performance and blood metabolites of finishing Zandi lambs were determined.
Experimental treatments were: 1) control; diet containing 20% non-irradiated corn silage and 2) diet containing 20% corn silage irradiated with 25
gray gamma ray. Irradiation with 25 dosage of gamma gray increased secondary roots, plumule and rootlet number in greenhouse condition as
compared to other irradiation dosages (P<0.01). Irradiated corn had higher levels of soluble carbohydrates, soluble protein and chlorophyll content in
the field condition compared to control group (P<0.01). Silage obtained from irradiated corn had higher crude protein content and lower pH compared
to control (P<0.05). Feeding irradiated corn silage increased final body weight and average daily gain and improved feed conversion ratio of fattening
lambs (P<0.05). Based on the results of the present study, irradiation of corn seeds with gamma ray improves corn silage quality and performance of
fattening lambs.
Keywords
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