Performance of growing sheep fed rations containing lime treated dates seed and olive pulp [electronic resource].

Includes references.

This investigation was carried out to study the effect of different lime treatments on chemical composition and in situ dry and organic matter disappearance of date seeds and olive pulp, then the effect of these treated materials on performance of sheep. Date seeds and olive pulp were treated by different levels (0, 4, 8 and 12%: w/w) of lime solution for different periods (1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks). Results indicated that there were linear improvements in chemical composition with increasing lime treatment level and period. Treated date seeds and olive pulp by 12% lime solution for 4 weeks decreased ADL content by 25 and 24%, respectively. Moreover, in situ DM and OM disappearance were increased from 34.55 to 68.54 and from 35.64 to 70.88%, respectively for date seed and from 35.62 to 42.83 and from 34.54 to 43.37% at the same order for olive pulp. Mixture from date seeds and olive pulp (1:1) treated by 12% lime solution for 4 weeks was used to replace 20 (T1) or 40% (T2) of concentrate feed mixture in Barki lambs rations (30% clover hay: 70 concentrate. control, C). Thirty growing male Barki lambs (5 months age and weighed 27.98 ± 1.97 kg) were assigned into equal three groups (10 lambs in each) to be fed randomly on the previous rations (C, T1 or T2) in a growth trial which lasted 100 days.

Summary in Arabic.

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