Effect of Molasses Distillers Condensed Soluble on Nutrients Digestibility, Performance and Some Blood Biological Parameters in Lambs
Mohammad Mehdi Moeini *
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran
Saeid Veyskarami
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran.
Fardin Hozhabri
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of dietary molasses distillers condensed soluble (MDCS) on nutrients digestibility, performance, carcass traits and some blood biological parameters in Lori male lambs. A total of 24 male lambs (aged 8 months, 31.16±1.10 kg) were randomly assigned to each of 4 dietary treatments with 6 replicate. The experimental animals were daily offered a basal diet with 0, 5, 10 and 15 percentage of MDCS/Kg DM of total ration, which were mixed with wheat straw and alfalfa hay. The results of the study indicated that the digestibility of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) of alfalfa hay were increased (P<0.05) by using the MDCS. The in-vivo apparent digestibility of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP) and NDF of experimental diets were increased (P<0.05) by incorporation of MDCS at the level of 15%. There were no significant differences among treatments in average daily gain (ADG), dry matter intake (DMI), carcass characteristics and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Serum metabolites and liver enzymes were also not affected due to incorporation of MDCS in the diets. In conclusion, MDCS can be used as a source of protein and energy for ruminants, which can be mixed with hay or concentrate and could safely be used as a feed ingredient up to 15% to the male lamb’s diet without any detrimental effects.
Keywords: MDCS, lamb, digestibility, blood metabolites, nutritive value