Ram. Aljassim et al., UTILIZATION OF CONCENTRATE DIETS CONTAINING ACORNS (QUERCUS-AEGILOPS AND QUERCUS-COCCIFERA) AND UREA BY GROWING AWASSI LAMBS, Small ruminant research, 29(3), 1998, pp. 289-293
Thirty individually penned Awassi lambs (mean BW 25.3 +/- 0.45 kg and
4-5 months of age) were used in a growth experiment. This was followed
by a digestion and nitrogen balance experiment using 12 lambs (mean B
W 35.5 +/- 0.43 kg and 6 months of age). Lambs in both experiments wer
e divided into three equal groups and fed one of the three concentrate
mixes, two of which contained ground acorns (Quercus aegilops and Que
rcus coccifera) at 25% and 50% levels of DM (% dry weight). The aim of
the work was to evaluate the usefulness of acorns as an alternative e
nergy source for growing lambs. Concentrates were given according to B
W (restricted to 3.5% of BW). Daily weight gain (DWG) of lambs fed the
control diet or 25% acorn diet was similar (186 and 189 g) but higher
(P < 0.01) than lambs on the 50% acorn diet (142 g). Feed conversion
ratio (kg DM/kg LW gain) was lower (P < 0.01) for the 50% acorn diet.
Digestibility coefficients of dietary constituents (DM, OM, ash, NDF,
ADF, and N) were reduced (P < 0.001 and P < 0.01) as a result of acorn
substitution for barley. Nitrogen retention (g/day) was also lower(P
< 0.05) for acorn diets, but similar(P > 0.05) across treatments when
expressed as percentage (%) of apparently digested N. The low cost of
acorns compared with barley suggest that substitution of acorns for ba
rley at a maximum level of 25% would be economically advantageous. (C)
1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.