Evaluation of poultry litter as a feed component in lambs rations [electronic resource].

Includes references.

A feeding trial of 90 days duration was conducted to study the effect of replacing 30% and 40% of lamb rations by poultry litter on the performance, digestibility of nutrients, nitrogen utilization, rumen liquor characteristics in addition to some blood biochemical parameters. Carcass traits were also investigated in this study. Fifteen Rahmani lambs of 9 months age and average initial body weight of 35.5 kg were allotted into three groups (5 animals each). The first group was fed a basal ration and considered as control, while the second and third groups were fed rations in which poultry litter (PL) replaced 30 and 40% of the basal ration. There was no significant differences in the dry matter intake between the different experimental groups and the animals of the control one and those fed ration having 40% PL consumed nearly the same amounts of dry matter. Lambs fed on the ration containing high level of PL (40%) had significantly (P<0.05) decreased average daily gain and poor feed conversion ratio compared to those of the other two groups. No significant differences were observed in the digestibility's of DM, OM, EE and NFE of the experimental rations, while CP and CF digestibilites were improved in the tested rations containing PL compared to control one. Nitrogen balance and N-retention, as % of N¬ intake and absorbed were significantly (P<0.05) higher in animals of groups fed on ration containing 30% PL and control compared to lambs fed the ration containing 40% PL. No significant differences were observed among different treated groups in total blood serum protein, albumin and globulin, while urea and uric acid concentrations were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the serum of animals fed on PL rations compared to control. Ruminal pH was not affected significantly by PL addition, while there was significant differences (P<0.05) in the total bacterial count and TVFAs. The control group revealed higher values for these parameters followed by the groups fed on 30% and 40% PL. Rumen NH3-N was. increased significantly (P<0.05) by increasing PL level in the ration. Carcass traits were not affected significantly by the level of poultry litter in the rations inspite of the little increase in the weights of internal organs in the control group. Slight dilatation in the liver central vein and degeneration in the tubular epithelium of kidney.

Summary in Arabic.