Effect of dietary inclusion of Discarded Beetroot and Potato Hash Silage on growth performance and digestibility in South African Dorper lambs

Abstract

Experiment was conducted to study the effect of dietary inclusion of Discarded Beetroot (DB) and Potato Hash Silage (PHS) on the growth performance of South African Dorper lambs. Potato hash silage was produced in 210/drums for 3 months and its fermentation characteristics were determined. Diets that contained no agro-industrial by-product (T,), DB (T2) or DB in combination with PHS (T3) were formulated and fed to 24 lambs of 24.5±0.275 kg body weight (8 per treatment). The PHS was poorly fermented as indicated by lower concentrations of lactic acid, higher butyric and ammonia-N. Higher (p<0.05) Dry Matter Intake (DM!) was obtained in 1l diet compared to the others. Lambs on diet T3 had lower (p<0.05) ADG than those fed the other diets. Improved (p<0.05) digestibility of CP was obtained in T1 and T2. It was concluded that dietary addition of poorly fermented potato hash silage resulted in lower ADG. Further research on the effect of dietary inclusion of high quality potato hash silage on ruminant performance is needed. © Medwell Journals, 2010.