Productive and physiological response of ewe-lambs fed ration containing bio-upgraded rice straw

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate effects of inclusion biologically treated rice straw with Trichoderma viride or Trichoderma reesei in ewe-lambs ration on its productive and some physiological response. Thirty crossbred (Rahmany X Romanof) ewe-lambs (three months old and 17±1.13 kg body weight) were assigned randomly to three groups (10 animals each). The first group was fed ration contained 55% concentrate feed mixture and 22.5% clover hay plus 22.5% Untreated Rice Straw (URS), group two and three were fed rations contained rice straw treated with T. reesei (TRSR) or T. viride (TRSV), respectively. No significant differences were observed in nutrients digestibility, Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN), nitrogen retention and nitrogen utilization efficiency among the experimental groups. Treatments did not record differences in TVFA’s, ammonia concentration and pH value of rumen liquor at 0, 3 and 6 h post feeding. Also no significant differences were observed among the experimental groups in blood metabolites, while albumin, cholesterol and progesterone concentration increased (p<0.05) as animal age increased. Groups fed TRSV and TRSR recorded lower (p>0.05) values in total gain, average daily gain and worst (p>0.05) feed conversion as DM and CP compared to the control group. It could be concluded that using biologically treated rice straw in ewe-lambs ration had no adverse effects on nutrients digestibility and nitrogen balance as well as physiological response, while insignificantly decreased (p>0.05) growth performance.