Effects of physical form and wheat straw level in the diet on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, rumen papillae morphometry, and carcass characteristics in Lohi lambs
M. A. Sohail A , M. A. Rashid
A * , H. F. Habib A , M. I. Malik A , M. S. Yousaf B and H. Rehman B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Department of Animal Nutrition, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore 54000, Pakistan.
B Department of Physiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore 54000, Pakistan.
Animal Production Science 62(18) 1805-1815 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN21559
Submitted: 4 November 2021 Accepted: 27 July 2022 Published: 26 August 2022
© 2022 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing
Abstract
Context: To achieve maximum growth and decrease fattening periods farmers tend to use a high concentrate diet in the total mixed ration (TMR). A larger particle size of straw may increase the concentrate level in the TMR and improve the performance without affecting the rumen health of lambs.
Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of physical form (PF) and wheat straw levels (SL) in the diet on growth performance, rumen health, and carcass characteristics of lambs.
Methods: Thirty-two male Lohi lambs (31.5 ± 2.5 kg, age 6–7 months) were randomly assigned to four treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with two physical forms [pelleted, conventional mashed] and two levels of straw (15% and 25%). The experiment lasted for 16 weeks including 2 weeks for dietary adaptation, 13 weeks for growth data collection, and 1 week for digestibility.
Key results: Lambs fed pelleted and 15% straw diets had greater dry matter intake than those offered mashed and 25% straw diets. Lambs fed 15% pelleted straw TMR displayed a greater final bodyweight, average daily gain, and feed efficiency than the other treatments. Dry matter and organic matter digestibility were higher in lambs fed on the pelleted and 15% straw diets compared to those fed on the mashed and the 25% straw diets. However, neutral detergent fibre digestibility was higher in the lambs fed 15% straw than those fed 25% straw diets. Lambs fed pelleted and 15% straw diets had longer papillae (P < 0.05), covering greater surface area than those fed on the mashed and 25% straw diets. Lambs fed on the pelleted and 15% straw diets had greater (P < 0.05) marbling score, rib eye area, empty live weight, hot carcass weight, and fat content than the lambs fed mashed and 25% straw diets.
Conclusion: Greater digestibility and feed intake of lambs fed a 15% pelleted straw TMR led to better growth performance, and improved carcass quality.
Implications: Feeding wheat straw-based pelleted TMR with 15% straw ground at 8 mm shows great potential to enhance the sustainable lamb production system in Pakistan.
Keywords: Carcass, mash form total mixed ration, papillae morphometry, pelleted, pH, rumen, unpelleted, wheat straw.
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