The effect of ammoniated maize stover inclusion in diets on growth performance, physiological characteristics and meat quality in lambs
G. M. Chelopo A B and U. Marume
A B *
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Agricultural Science, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Agriculture, North-West University, Private Bag X 2046, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa.
B Food Security and Safety Niche area, Faculty of Agriculture, Science and Technology, North West University, Private Bag X 2046, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa.
Animal Production Science 63(2) 168-177 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN22045
Submitted: 4 February 2022 Accepted: 9 August 2022 Published: 16 September 2022
© 2023 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing
Abstract
Context: The exploration of alternative feed sources for lambs to offset the expensive conventional ingredients is imperative.
Aims: To determine whether the inclusion of graded levels of ammoniated maize stover in lamb diets will positively influence growth performance, health and meat quality.
Methods: Thirty-two female meatmaster lambs aged 5–6 months (eight lambs per treatment) were fed isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets containing 0%, 10%, 20% and 40% ammoniated maize stover (AMS) over a period of 7 weeks.
Key results: The lambs fed the AMS10 diet had a greater feed intake than did those fed AMS0, with lambs fed AMS20 and AMS40 not different from each other. Lambs fed on AMS10 and AMS20 grew faster than those fed on AMS40, but AMS0-fed lambs did not differ from any of the other groups. Similarly, feed conversion ratio (FCR, 5.25) was greater for lambs fed on AMS40 than for those on either AMS10 or AMS20, but those on AMS0 did not differ from the other groups. There were no significant differences in any of the mean values for haematological parameters; however, haematocrit was below the normal range for healthy lambs in all dietary treatments. Inclusion of AMS had no effect on the slaughter weight of lambs or any carcass characteristics apart from the dressing percentage. The lambs fed the AMS20 diets had a significantly higher dressing percentage than did all other groups. Ultimate pH (pHu) values were significantly higher on lambs fed on AMS40 than for all other groups. pHu values among AMS0, AMS10 and AMS20 were similar. Shear force for lambs on AMS40 diet was less than that for AMS0, but neither differed significantly from the other two groups.
Conclusions: Observations from the study showed that ammoniated maize stover may be included into lamb diets at least at 20% without adverse effects on growth performance, the health, and meat-quality characteristics of the lambs.
Implications: Ammoniated maize stover can therefore be a cheaper feed source for lambs in feedlot systems as it primarily replaces lucerne and maize grain.
Keywords: ammoniated maize stover, carcass characteristics, growth performance, haematology, lambs, meat quality, ruminal pH, shear force.
References
Ahmed MH, Babiker SA (2015) Effect of feeding urea-treated sugar-cane bagasse on properties and quality of fresh meat of Sudan Baggara Zebu Bulls. International Journal of Animal Biology 1, 45–49.Ali I, Fontenot JP, Allen VG (2009) Palatability and dry matter intake by sheep fed corn stover treated with different nitrogen sources. Pakistan Veterinary Journal 29, 199–201.
Animals Protection Act 71 (1962) Government Gazette Extraordinary, South African Government. Available at https://www.gov.za/
Beigh YA, Ganai AM, Ahmad HA (2017) Prospects of complete feed system in ruminant feeding: a review. Veterinary World 10, 424–437.
| Prospects of complete feed system in ruminant feeding: a review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Brand AA, Cloete SWP, Franck F (1991) The effect of supplementing untreated, urea supplemented and urea ammoniated wheat straw with maize meal and/or fish meal in sheep. South African Journal of Animal Science 21, 48–54.
Calkins CR, Hodgen JM (2007) A fresh look at meat flavor. Meat Science 77, 63–80.
| A fresh look at meat flavor.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Calzado JF, Rolz C (1990) Estimation of the growth rate of Pleurotus on stacked straw. Journal of Fermentation and Bioengineering 69, 70–71.
| Estimation of the growth rate of Pleurotus on stacked straw.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cömert M, Şayan Y, Özelçam H, Baykal GY (2015) Effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae supplementation and anhydrous ammonia treatment of wheat straw on in-situ degradability and, rumen fermentation and growth performance of yearling lambs. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences 28, 639–646.
| Effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae supplementation and anhydrous ammonia treatment of wheat straw on in-situ degradability and, rumen fermentation and growth performance of yearling lambs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
da Silva LD, Pereira OG, da Silva TC, Valadares Filho SC, Ribeiro KG (2016) Effects of silage crop and dietary crude protein levels on digestibility, ruminal fermentation, nitrogen use efficiency, and performance of finishing beef cattle. Animal Feed Science and Technology 220, 22–33.
| Effects of silage crop and dietary crude protein levels on digestibility, ruminal fermentation, nitrogen use efficiency, and performance of finishing beef cattle.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dayani O, Dadvar P, Afsharmanesh M (2011) Effect of dietary whole cottonseed and crude protein level on blood parameters and performance of fattening lambs. Small Ruminant Research 97, 48–54.
| Effect of dietary whole cottonseed and crude protein level on blood parameters and performance of fattening lambs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
della Malva A, Albenzio M, Annicchiarico G, Caroprese M, Muscio A, Santillo A, Marino R (2016) Relationship between slaughtering age, nutritional and organoleptic properties of Altamurana lamb meat. Small Ruminant Research 135, 39–45.
| Relationship between slaughtering age, nutritional and organoleptic properties of Altamurana lamb meat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
El bukhary HAA (2005) Effect of dietary energy level on finishing Baggara heifers. PhD thesis, University of Khartoum.
Etim NN, Williams ME, Akpabio U, Offiong EA (2014) Haematological parameters and factors affecting their values. Agricultural Science 2, 37–47.
| Haematological parameters and factors affecting their values.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Faverdin P (1999) The effect of nutrients on feed intake in ruminants. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 58, 523–531.
| The effect of nutrients on feed intake in ruminants.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fontaine J, Schirmer B, Hörr J (2002) Near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) enables the fast and accurate prediction of essential amino acid contents. 2. Results for wheat, barley, corn, triticale, wheat bran/middlings, rice bran, and sorghum. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 50, 3902–3911.
| Near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) enables the fast and accurate prediction of essential amino acid contents. 2. Results for wheat, barley, corn, triticale, wheat bran/middlings, rice bran, and sorghum.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (2012) OECD-FAO agricultural outlook 2012–2021. Available at http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/templates/est/COMM_MARKETS_MONITORING/Oilcrops/Documents/OECD_Reports/Ch5StatAnnex.pdf
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2015) Climate change and food security: risks and responses. Available at https://www.fao.org/3/i5188e/I5188E.pdf. [Accessed 19 April 2022]
Hadjipanayiotou M, Labban LM, El-Rahman Kronfoleh A, Verhaeghe L, Naigm T, Al-Wadi M, Amin M (1993) Studies on the use of dried poultry manure in ruminant diets in Syria. Livestock Research for Rural Development 5, 39–45. http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd5/1/syria2.htm
Lancaster NA, Muegge CR, Reis de Carvalho JR, et al. (2019) Alkali addition and roughage inclusion effect on performance and carcass characteristics of feedlot steers fed diets containing 60% dried distillers grains with solubles. Translational Animal Science 3, 1296–1314.
| Alkali addition and roughage inclusion effect on performance and carcass characteristics of feedlot steers fed diets containing 60% dried distillers grains with solubles.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lawrie RA, Ledward DA (2006) ‘Lawri’s meat science.’ 7th edn. (Woodhead Publishing Limited: Abington Hall, Abington Cambridge, UK)
Liu JX, Meng QX (2002) Feeding and individual supplementation: FAO Corporate Document Repository. FAO Animal Production and Health 149.
Machete JB, Baleseng LB, Molemogi E, Mpho K, Bahta S, Ntokome K (2016) Effect of three different diets on sensory attributes and meat quality of feedlot finished Tswana yearling steers. International Journal of Livestock Production 7, 134–140.
| Effect of three different diets on sensory attributes and meat quality of feedlot finished Tswana yearling steers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Marume U, Chimonyo M, Dzama K (2012) Influence of dietary supplementation with Acacia karroo on experimental haemonchosis in indigenous Xhosa lop-eared goats of South Africa. Livestock Science 144, 132–139.
| Influence of dietary supplementation with Acacia karroo on experimental haemonchosis in indigenous Xhosa lop-eared goats of South Africa.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mbow C, Rosenzweig C, Barioni LG, Benton TG, Herrero M, Krishnapillai M, Liwenga E, Pradhan P, Rivera-Ferre MG, Sapkota T, Tubiello FN, Xu Y (2019) Food security. In ‘Climate change and land: an IPCC special report on climate change, desertification, land degradation, sustainable land management, food security, and greenhouse gas fluxes in terrestrial ecosystems’. (Eds PR Shukla, J Skea, E Calvo Buendia, V Masson-Delmotte, H-O Pörtner, DC Roberts, P Zhai, R Slade, S Connors, R van Diemen, M Ferrat, E Haughey, S Luz, S Neogi, M Pathak, J Petzold, J Portugal Pereira, P Vyas, E Huntley, K Kissick, M Belkacemi, J Malley). Available at https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/sites/4/2021/02/08_Chapter-5_3.pdf. [In press]
McDonald P, Edwards RA, Greenhalgh JFD, Morgan CA, Sinclair LA, Wilkinson RG (2011) ‘Animal nutrition.’ 7th edn. (Prentice Hall: London)
Merck Manual (2012) Haematologic reference ranges. Merck veterinary manual. Available at http://www.merckmanuals.com/. [Accessed 25 May 2020]
Mudgal V, Mehta MK, Rane AS (2018) Lentil straw (Lens culinaris): an alternative and nutritious feed resource for kids. Animal Nutrition 4, 417–421.
| Lentil straw (Lens culinaris): an alternative and nutritious feed resource for kids.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
National Research Council (NRC) (2007) ‘Sheep, goats, cervids and new world camelids.’ 6th edn. (National Academies Press: Washington, DC, USA)
National Research Council (NRC) (2015) ‘Critical role of animal science research in food security and sustainability.’ (National Academies Press: Washington, DC, USA)
Ngambu S, Muchenje V, Marume U (2013) Effect of Acacia karroo supplementation on growth, ultimate ph, colour and cooking losses of meat from indigenous Xhosa lop-eared goats. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences 26, 128–133.
| Effect of Acacia karroo supplementation on growth, ultimate ph, colour and cooking losses of meat from indigenous Xhosa lop-eared goats.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Nuñez AJC, Felix TL, Lemenager RP, Schoonmaker JP (2014) Effect of calcium oxide inclusion in beef feedlot diets containing 60% dried distillers grains with solubles on ruminal fermentation, diet digestibility, performance, and carcass characteristics. Journal of Animal Science 92, 3954–3965.
| Effect of calcium oxide inclusion in beef feedlot diets containing 60% dried distillers grains with solubles on ruminal fermentation, diet digestibility, performance, and carcass characteristics.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Orden EA, Yamaki K, Ichinohe T, Fujihara T (2000) Feeding value of ammoniated rice straw supplemented with rice bran in sheep: II. In situ rumen degradation of untreated and ammonia treated rice straw. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences 13, 906–912.
| Feeding value of ammoniated rice straw supplemented with rice bran in sheep: II. In situ rumen degradation of untreated and ammonia treated rice straw.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Peterson SJ (2014) Feeding alkaline treated and processed crop residue to feedlot cattle. (University of Nebraska – Lincoln). Available at http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/animalscidiss. [Accessed 19 April 2022]
Polizopoulou ZS (2010) Haematological tests in sheep health management. Small Ruminant Research 92, 88–91.
| Haematological tests in sheep health management.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Research Animal Resource (RAR) (2009) Reference values for laboratory animals: normal haematological values. (RAR Websites, RAR, University of Minnesota). Available at https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.695.6847&rep=rep1&type=pdf [Accessed 20 April 2022]
Roth MTP, Reis RA, Resende FD, Siqueira GR, Pires AJV, Bertipaglia LMA (2010) Chemical treatment of post-harvest Marandu grass seed residues with different moisture contents. Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia 39, 479–486.
| Chemical treatment of post-harvest Marandu grass seed residues with different moisture contents.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rozanski S, Vivian DR, Kowalski LH, Rochadelli R, Freitas JA, Garcez Neto AF, Fernandes SR (2019) The economic viability of the inclusion of urea in the ration for feedlot lambs. Revista Brasileira de Saúde e Produção Animal 20, e0262019
| The economic viability of the inclusion of urea in the ration for feedlot lambs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sañudo C, Enser ME, Campo MM, Nute GR, María G, Sierra I, Wood JD (2000) Fatty acid composition and sensory characteristics of lamb carcasses from Britain and Spain. Meat Science 54, 339–346.
| Fatty acid composition and sensory characteristics of lamb carcasses from Britain and Spain.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Saro C, Mateo J, Andrés S, Mateos I, Ranilla MJ, López S, Martín A, Giráldez FJ (2019) Replacing soybean meal with urea in diets for heavy fattening lambs: effects on growth, metabolic profile and meat quality. Animals 9, 974
| Replacing soybean meal with urea in diets for heavy fattening lambs: effects on growth, metabolic profile and meat quality.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
SAS (2012) ‘Proprietary software release 9.3.’ (Statistical Analysis Systems Institute, Inc.: Cary, NC, USA)
Schiere JB, de Wit J (1993) Feeding standards and feeding systems. Animal Feed Science and Technology 43, 121–134.
| Feeding standards and feeding systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Singh S, Patel S, Litoria N, Gandhi K, Faldu P, Patel KG (2018) Comparative efficiency of conventional and NIR based technique for proximate composition of pigeon pea, soybean and rice cultivars. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences 7, 773–782.
| Comparative efficiency of conventional and NIR based technique for proximate composition of pigeon pea, soybean and rice cultivars.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sundstoel F, Coxworth E, Mowat DN (1978) Improving the nutritive value of straw and other low quality roughage by treatment with ammonia. World Animal Review 26, 13–21.
Unigwe CR, Marire BN, Omeke BCO, Abonyi FO, Oladipo TA, Adebayo DM (2016) Effects of maize-replaced fermented cassava peels and enzyme-supplemented diet on haematology and serum biochemistry of cross-bred female pigs. International Journal of Advanced Research and Biological Sciences 3, 198–208. http://s-o-i.org/1.15/ijarbs-2016-3-6-27
Van Soest PJ (2006) Rice straw, the role of silica and treatments to improve quality. Animal Feed Science and Technology 130, 137–171.
| Rice straw, the role of silica and treatments to improve quality.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Xazela NM, Hugo A, Marume U, Muchenje V (2017) Perceptions of rural consumers on the aspects of meat quality and health implications associated with meat consumption. Sustainability 9, 830
| Perceptions of rural consumers on the aspects of meat quality and health implications associated with meat consumption.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wang B, Ma T, Deng K-D, Jiang C-G, Diao Q-Y (2016) Effect of urea supplementation on performance and safety in diets of Dorper crossbred sheep. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition 100, 902–910.
| Effect of urea supplementation on performance and safety in diets of Dorper crossbred sheep.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wu G, Farouk MM, Clerens S, Rosenvold K (2014) Effect of beef ultimate pH and large structural protein changes with aging on meat tenderness. Meat Science 98, 637–645.
| Effect of beef ultimate pH and large structural protein changes with aging on meat tenderness.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
