Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
2458398 Small Ruminant Research 2006 6 Pages PDF
Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the season effect (heat load) on nutrient utilization and blood-rumen parameters of Awassi ram lambs fed different levels and types of forages. Total sixteen 2-year-old Awassi ram lambs (44.3 ± 1.5 kg) for each apparent digestion trials were used as experimental animals. Experiment was arranged in 2 × 2 × 2 factorial in which season (summer versus fall), forage type (wheat straw versus alfalfa hay), and forage level (30% versus 70%) were the main effects to be investigated. Season and forage type did not affect dry matter intake (DMI) of ram lambs. Changing forage level from 70 to 30% increased DMI of ram lambs (P < 0.05). Daily water consumption of ram lambs was altered by season and forage type (P < 0.05). Dry matter and organic matter (OM) digestibilities in diets were affected by forage type and forage level (P < 0.05), however season affect was only observed in OM digestibilities (P < 0.05). While ADF digestibilities were changed by season and forage type, NDF digestibilities were only affected by season (P < 0.05). Season altered pH values of rumen fluid (P < 0.05) and during the summer pH values were lower than fall (5.87 versus 6.34). Serum Ca and K concentrations were affected by forage type and forage level (P < 0.05) but not season (P > 0.05). Serum Cl concentrations were changed by forage level (P < 0.05) but not season and forage type (P > 0.05). Effect of season (heat load) in this study was lower than expected probably due to low level of humidity.

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Life Sciences Agricultural and Biological Sciences Animal Science and Zoology
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