Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Doctoral student, Department of Animal Science, University of Birjand, Birjand,, IRAN.
2 Professor, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Birjand University, Birjand, Iran.
3 Professor, Animal Science Research Institute of Iran, Karaj, IRAN.
4 professor, Department of Animal Science Faculty of Agriculture Birjand University, Birjand, Iran.
Abstract
Introduction: The use of agricultural plants resistant to environmental stresses, such as fodder beet, is inevitable in water shortage conditions. These types of products have high moisture, which makes it difficult to store them. Total mixed ration (TMR) silage can be a good solution for this problem. In this study, the possibility of using fodder beet in level of 25 or 35% (DM basis) in TMR silage and fattening ration of Afshari male lambs were evaluated by in vitro and in vivo methods.
Material and Methods: Two experiments were designed. Two fattening lamb diets containing two levels of fodder beet (25% and 35%, DM basis) were evaluated as TMR silage for 60 days, and then the ration containing 25% level was used in two forms of TMR silage (60-days silage) and TMR in for a 70-days period, in the feeding of fattening lambs.
Results and Discussion: Silage fermentation properties and aerobic stability were significantly affected by diet and time. Increasing the level of fodder beet, decreased pH, NDF, ADF, starch of silage. Lambs fed with TMR silage, consumed more dry matter than the control group, and other performance indices did not show significant differences.
Conclusion: Based on the results obtained from this research, feeding TMR silage containing 25% fodder beet caused better fermentation characteristics and aerobic stability compared to 35% level and seems that it can be used to feeding male fattening lambs, without any adverse effect on performance and health
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