Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Kafkas Universitesi Veteriner Fakultesi Dergisi, cilt.15, sa.3, ss.369-374, 2009 (SCI-Expanded)
In this study, the effect of concentrated feed mixtures containing different protein sources on growth performance, digestibility of nutrients and rumen metabolites was investigated in Tuj lambs. The lambs were acclimatized for 15 days which is followed by 90 day-experimental trial with the total experimental period of 105 days. Twenty four Tuj lambs with the average of 19.5 kg body weight at 3-3.5 months of age were used in this trial. The animals were divided into 4 groups containing 6 lambs each and kept in individual cages. In the study, concentrated feed mixtures having the equal amounts of crude protein (CP, 16%) and metabolizable energy levels (ME, 2700 kcal/kg) were prepared from 4 different protein sources including sunflower meal (SFM), soybean meal (SBM), cotton seed meal (CSM) and corn gluten meal (CGM). The animals were fed with the ration which is composed of 80% concentrate feed and 20% roughage (hay). During the experimental period, consumption of total dry matter in SFM, SBM, CSM and CGM groups were determined to be 1267, 1040, 1024 and 982 g, respectively (P>0.05). The highest total dry matter consumption was observed in SFM group. Daily live weight gain between 0 and 90th days in the groups were found to be 212.5, 172.3, 158.9 and 169.6 g, while the ratio of feed conversions were 6.01, 6.25, 6.72 and 5.94, respectively (P>0.05). At the end of experimental trial, there was no statistically significant difference (P>0.05) in dry matter, organic matter, crude protein digestibilities, rumen pH, ammonium nitrogen and total volatile fatty acids parameters among the groups. In summary, it was concluded that concentrate feed mixtures composed of different protein sources have no effect on growth performance, digestibility and rumen metabolites in Tuj lambs.