Effect of Using Sesbania sesban and Its Mixtures with some Summer Fresh Grasses on Lambs Productive Performance in New Reclaimed Soil

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Animal Production Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center, Egypt.

2 Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Suez Canal University

Abstract

The objective of this work was to study cultivation sesbania and its mixtures with sorghum or millet in
reclaimed sandy soil, then utilization the green forages in feeding of growing lambs for 16 weeks in two stages (The 1st
cut was fed in the 1st stage through the first 8 weeks and 2nd cut was fed in the 2nd stage through the last 8
weeks).Twenty four Ossimi lambs averaged 22.5 kg body weight were divided into four groups (6 in each) to evaluate
the following rations: Ration A (control): 100% from requirements of CP according to NRC(1985) from Concentrate
Feed Mixture (CFM) + Rice straw ad lib., Ration B: 50% from requirements of CP according to NRC from CFM +
Sesbania ad lib., Ration C: 50% from requirements of CP according to NRC from CFM + Sesbania-Sorghum mixture
(1:1) ad lib. and Ration D: 50% from requirements of CP according to NRC from CFM + Sesbania-Millet mixture (1:1)
ad lib. Digestibility trials were conducted to evaluate the experimental rations using 12 rams (3 in each). The rumen
parameters were measured and forage yield was determined. Results showed that DM and CF% were lower and CP%
was higher in Sesbania than Sorghum, Millet, Sesbania-Sorghum mixture and Sesbania-Millet mixture. The differences
among all rations in digestion coefficients of DM, OM, CP, NFE and TDN% of tested rations were not significant. The
ruminal parameters explained that the pH of control was significantly higher than other groups at all times in 2nd stage,
while the differences among other groups were not significant. The differences of ammonia-N at 2hrs after feeding were
not significant among groups, while ammonia-N of control was significantly higher than other groups at 4hrs, and the
differences among other groups were not significant at the same time. The differences number of TVFA's among groups
were not significant in 1st stage. The differences of protozoa at 4 hrs post feeding were not significant among all groups.
The differences of microbial protein were not significant among all groups in the 1st stage. The highest cost value of
feed consumption was recorded with control. The daily body gain(DBG) were 156.1, 150.3, 154 and 154.8 gm/h/d for
lamb groups which fed rations A, B, C and D respectively and the differences of DBG among four groups were not
significant. The best feed conversion and economical efficiency were recorded with ration D. The green forage yield of
Sesbania pure, Sesbania-Sorghum mixture and Sesbania-Millet mixture were 10.85, 15.31 and 15.30 ton/feddan, dry
yield were 2.22, 3.32 and 3.34 ton/feddan, and crude protein yield were 403, 451 and 478kg/feddan, respectively.

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