EFFECT OF GROWING FATTENING DIETS ON THE GROWTH-PERFORMANCE OF INTENSIFIED AFGHANI LAMBS

Three isonitrogenous and isocaloric complete diets (A, B and C) were p repared from cottonseed meal, soybean meal and canola meal, respective ly, as the major source of protein. Eighteen 100- to 115-day-old Afgha ni male lambs were fed individually ad libitum for a period of 90 days . A growth trial was followed by a digestibility trial during which la mbs were fed 90% of their voluntary feed intake (VFI). Average daily w eight gain was higher (P < 0.05) in lambs fed Diets B (244 g day(-1)) and C (233 g day(-1)), respectively, as compared to Diet A (213 g day( -1)). No significant difference was found in DMI among diets. Better(P < 0.05) feed efficiency was found in lambs fed on Diets B (8.98) and C (8.58) as compared to Diet A (9.79). Economic efficiency was best on Diet B (18.97) as compared to Diets A (24.11) and C (21.61). Non-sign ificant differences were observed in DM and CP digestibility of Diets B and C. However, DM and CP digestibility of Diets B and C differed (P < 0.05) from those of Diet A. Crude fibre digestibility was higher (P < 0.05) for Diet B as compared to Diets A and C. It was concluded tha t soybean meal and canola meal diets were significantly better protein sources for lamb growth than cotton seed meal. (C) 1997 Elsevier Scie nce B.V.