Effect of camelthorn forage feeding on the performance of Baluchi sheep

Document Type : Research Paper

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Abstract

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of camelthorn (Alhagi sp.) as a foraghe in the diet of Balouchi sheep (during the last two months of gestation and two months of lactation) where 72 ewes in a completely randomized design with three treatments (diets) and four replications were used. Experimental diets were : 1) wheat straw 50%, alfalfa hay 30% and barley grain 20%, as control group;  2) camelthorn hay 40%, wheat straw 25%, alfalfa hay 15% and barley grain 20%;  3) camelthorn hay 80 and barley grain  20%. Results showed that the average daily dry matter intake was reduced by sheep that received diet contained 40% camelthorn (P < 0.05) however, no significant differences were obtained when the dry matter intake was estimated based on the metabolic body weight (g/kg of BW0.75).
The average daily milk yield was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in treatment three than that of the treatment two. The birth weight of lambs was not statistically affected by the treatments but the daily gain of lambs was lower (P < 0.05) in treatment two during 60-day recording. The feeding cost was reduced by inclusion of camelthorn in the diet where the lowest cost was by the diet contained 80% camelthorn. In conclusion, camelthorn may be used in the diet of ewes as roughage feed, although more research is required in this field.

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