Investigating the effects of replacement barley seeds with processed corn seeds on profitability of Afshary fattening lambs

Barley as native cereal is the single source of carbohydrate in fattening sheep. But barley causes some problems due to the fast degradation in the rumen like acidosis and decrease in growth performance. So the replacement of barley with another cereal like corn is necessary because corn has slow degradability in the rumen. On the other hand, any change in the ration composition has economical and financial effects in addition to the nutritional effects. Ignoring these financial and economic effects in decision making about the ration composition or changing it, could results in negative consequences. Different ration compositions could simultaneously have different cost and revenue effects and eventually different profitability consequences.
This study has tried to investigate all positive and negative economic consequences of replacement barley with different processed corn in fattening lambs. For this purpose, the used feeds in fattening period were balanced based on the experimental treatments with fixed quantity of protein and energy and 7 treatments/diets including 1) 100% Barley, 2) 50%:50% Barley & Grinding Corn, 3) 100% Grinding Corn, 4) 50%:50% Barley & Steam Flaking Corn, 5) 100% Steam Flaking Corn, 6) 50%:50% Barley & Pelleting Corn and 7) 100% Pelleting Corn. Every treatment included five lambs and each of 35 lambs was individually experimented during 84 days.
The results indicated that the rations control treatment and 100% steam flaking corn respectively have the least and the most cost increase for all periods.
Also, the rations control treatment and 100% pelleting corn respectively have the least and the most revenue increase for all periods.
Totally, and based on the partial budgeting results the rations 100% steam flaking corn and 100% pelleting corn respectively have the least and the most effects on relative profitability for all periods.