Effect of roasted cereals and soybean in feed mixtures on fattening and slaughter traits as well as blood composition in fattening lambs

Abstract

Abstract. The study examined the effect of raw and roasted cereals (corn, oat and barley) and soybean in diet on growth performance and blood parameters of lambs fattening. Totally 60 lambs after ablactation at average of 50 days, were tested and equally divided into three groups: an experimental I (E I), experimental II (E II) and a control (C) group. The fattening period lasted 56 days. Lambs of the C group were fed on mixture with crude forages, those from the E I on mixture with roasted cereals and lambs of the E II on mixture with both roasted cereals and soybean. The lambs from E I and E II groups grew faster (by 13.62 and 19.40 %), gained higher final body weight (by 6.72 and 8.08 %) and spent less food per kg of daily gain weights (by 14.03 and 13.24 %) although feed consumption in E I was lower (by 2.33 %) but in E II higher (3.49 %) in comparison with the C group. The blood serum concentrations of cholesterol-total and cholesterol-HDL were lower for lambs EI groups compared with lambs C and E II groups. ALP activity was higher for lambs EI and EII groups compared with C group. Urea concentrations were significantly (P<0.05) lower, and that of albumin higher in E II group compared to C group. There were no differences among groups for the serum minerals content, other biochemical indicators and enzymes. Obtained differences in slaughter properties of lambs (carcass weight and dressing) indicate their better productive effects. Concerning the gained production results may be concluded that the use of roasted cereals and soybean in feed mixture in lambs fattening is justified.