Authors : Ismail Kaya , Yucel Unal , Tarkan Sahin and Dilek Elmali
Abstract: This investigation was performed to determine the effects of feed with different levels of Crude Protein (CP) on live weight gain, digestibility, rumen pH, ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) and Volatile Fatty Acids (VFA) in the finishing period of morkaraman lambs. Twenty four lambs (31.39±0.61 kg) were divided randomly into 3 groups. The groups were fed with the diet 70% concentrate including 10, 13 and 16% CP and 30% hay. Lambs were fed ad-libitum twice a day. Experiment was lasted for 50 days. Lambs were weighed in 25 and 50 days, thus their live weight gain, daily weight gain were determined. In the last week of the study; digestibility was determined by total feces collection, rumen pH, NH3-N and VFA by rumen fluid collection. The daily live weight gain were lower of the 10% CP group than the 13 and 16% CP groups (p<0.05). Altough, the the DM digestibility and OM levels were not effected by the protein level, CP digestibility level was the highest in 16% CP level (p<0.05). Rumen fluid NH3-N level was increased, pH level was not effected, acetic acid level was decreased by the increase of dietary CP level (p<0.05). As a result, it can be better to feed the Morkaraman lambs in the finishing period with 16% CP for fattening, but 10 and 13% CP including feeds can be used for different breeding aims.
Ismail Kaya , Yucel Unal , Tarkan Sahin and Dilek Elmali , 2009. Effect of Different Protein Levels on Fattening Performance, Digestibility and Rumen Parameters in Finishing Lambs. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 8: 309-312.