Nutritional and economical feasibility of using reeds (Arundo domax, l) silage compared to corn (Zea mays l) silage as sheep feed [electronic resource].

Includes references.

The objective of the study was to evaluate reed silage (Arundo Domax. L.) in comparison to whole com (Zea mays L) or com stalks (CSS) silage feed offered to sheep. Whole com silage (WCS) was made without any additives and com stalk silage (CSS) was prepared with adding 0.5% urea (46%) in addition to 5% molasses, while 5% molasses was added at processing reeds silage. Fifty Ossimi rams about 60-65 kg divided into three groups assigned at random to receive one of the three tested silages. Another five animals were received berseem hay (BH) to calculate the relative palatability (RP). Three animals selected randomly from each group which were fed on tested silages to set three digestibility trials. The results of silage quality shown that; the average pH values ranged from 4.10 to 4.40. Concentrations of acetic, propionic, iso-butyric, iso-valeric and valeric acid indicted good quality and well-preserved silages. Content of CP in CSS was lower compared to RSS and WCS, while EE, NDF, ADF, ADL and hemicellulose contents were higher. Other nutrients of different silages were comparable. Relative palatability, feed intake per kg weight; feed intake per W⁰̇·⁷⁵ and actual feed intake as % of offered feed were significantly higher with WCS compared with CSS except feed intake per w⁰̇·⁷⁵ . The in sacco fractional disappearaoce of CP fur CSS were consistently and significantly (P<0.05) greater till 9hrs of incubation compared to WCS and RSS. Washing loss (W) of CP was significantly higher with CSS compared to RSS and WCS. No significant differences were found among different silages for DM, OM, CP, CF and NFE digestibility. The digestibilities of EE, NDF and ADF were higher for the group fed WCS compared with that fed CSS, while no significant difference was found between WCS and RSS or between RSS and CSS. The nutritive value expressed as TDN was significantly (P<0.05) higher for WCS compared to CSS, while the difference was not significant. between WCS and RSS. In the contrary, DCP for RSS silage was significantly (P<0.05) higher compared to the two types of corn silage, but WCS silage was higher compared to CSS. Ruminal liquor values of pH and NH,-N were significantly (p<0.05) higher in sheep fed CSS compared to those fed RSS or WCA. Concentration of acetic acid was lower with feeding CSS, whilst butyric acid was significantly (P<0.05) higher with feeding CSS compared to RSS and WCS silage. Bacterial and protozoa counted were significantly (P<0.05) higher in sheep-rumen fed WSS or RSS compared to that fed WCS. Using cell wall constituents and DM degradability in -simple and multiple regressions resulted in good accuracy in predicting feed intake. The prediction equations for feed intake and DM digestibility were improved when included CP as an additional factor in regressions models. The cost of production of 1 ton of RSS and CSS was lower in comparison to WCS. In conclusion, RSS might be more interesting than WCS in terms of economical cost.

Summary in Arabic.

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