complete feed block

Large parts of Iran have a dry and semi-arid climate, which is why opportunities for fodder production in the country are limited. Providing feed from agricultural by-products, including potato vines, can be considered a suitable option to compensate for the limitations of traditional feed (e.g. alfalfa). Ardabil province has about 15-20% of the country's potato cultivation area, and with the annual production of about 800 thousand tons of potato tubers, it ranks second in the country. Therefore, there is great potential in this province to produce by-products related to potatoes. The present study was conducted to investigate the possibility and effect of replacing potato vines with regular forage in the diet of pregnant sheep (during the last 45 days of pregnancy).

In the first step of this research, the chemical compositions of alfalfa hay and potato vine including dry matter, organic matter, ash, crude protein, crude fat, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) were determined. In the next phase, 210 pregnant Moghani sheep were randomly assigned to seven treatments with three replicates and 10 sheep per replicate. In addition to the control treatment (pasture feeding), six treatments with different levels of potato vine (zero, 16, and 32%) were used in two food forms, mash and complete block. The mentioned diets were given to the animals in the last 45 days of pregnancy in the amount of 500 grams during the night feeding time. It should be noted that lactating ewes were not subjected to any treatment after lambing and the effect of an additional feeding period on milk production was examined after three months of lambing.

According to the results obtained, the percentage of dry matter, crude protein, crude fat, gross energy, and ADF in potato vine was not significantly different from alfalfa feed, but the NDF percentage in potato vine was lower than alfalfa and its ash content was more than alfalfa (P<0.05). No significant difference was observed in the amount of dry matter digestibility (DMD) and dry organic matter digestibility (DOMD) between the potato vine and alfalfa hay. Ewe weight gain during the supplementary feeding period was influenced by different treatments (P<0.05). A similar pattern was observed for other traits such as ewe weight after lambing, birth weight of lambs, weight gain before weaning, and, weaning weight of lambs. In the current study, the examined traits in sheep that were fed with complete block showed better performance compared to sheep fed with mash. In this feeding method, animals are not able to choose due to the uniform composition of food, which leads to a uniform effect on the rumen and thus reduces the fluctuation in ammonia release for more efficient use of non-protein nitrogen. Complete block feeding is an efficient method to increase voluntary feed intake in ruminants. It also improves nutrient utilization by stabilizing fermentation in the rumen. The increase in birth and weaning weight in lambs whose mothers were fed complete block diets showed that the use of supplementary feeding in the last weeks of gestation of ewes, when carried out appropriately, leads to improvement in fetal growth and proper development of the mammary gland, and increase in birth weight of the lamb and milk production. The different treatments have a significant impact on the amount of milk production so that the average daily milk production throughout the lactation period was lowest in the control treatment (without using any nutritional supplements) and highest in the block feeding treatment at 16% Potato vine. The results showed that using the complete block produced a higher profit compared to the mash.

Based on the results of the present research, the use of 16% potato vine as a replacement for part of the usual fodder in the form of a complete feed block resulted in profitability in the nomadic sheep farming system. Given the cheap price and availability compared to alfalfa fodder and wheat straw, especially in drought conditions and poor pastures, its consumption is economical.

This research was conducted to study the effect of chickpea straw and strawberry forage in the diet of fattening calves. Eighteen Simmental male calves with initial weight of 285.16±38.15 kg were used in a completely randomized design with three diets over a four-month fattening period. Three diets were adjusted based on 70% concentrate and 30% forage. The forage section in the control was 18% alfalfa and 12% wheat straw, the second treatment was 25% strawberry plant, 3% alfalfa and 2% wheat straw and the third treatment was 25% chickpea straw and 5% alfalfa. The digestibility of diets was determined by acid-insoluble ash method. The use of strawberry forage and chickpea straw had no effect on feed intake and performance of calves. The digestibility of dry matter and organic matter in diet containing chickpea straw was higher than other complete feed blocks, however, the digestibility of NDF and ADF was higher in diets containing chickpea straw and strawberry forage than control . The feed conversion ratio in the group receiving chickpea straw was better than the control group. The cost price per kilogram of complete feed containing strawberry forage and chickpea straw were 20.2 and 24.57% lower than the control, respectively, which resulted in a reduction in feed cost per kilogram of increased calf weight compared to the control group. The results of this experiment showed that the use of strawberry forage and chickpea straw as a forage portion up to 25% in the diet reduced the cost of calf fattening.

In livestock rearing, providing a balanced diet for animal in order to produce meat and milk is the main component of this profession. Due to the limited rainfall and lack of good forage resources in Iran, nutrition has the highest cost share in livestock production. Therefore, identifying local source of animal feed and determining their nutritional value is essential. Because using these local feed sources in addition to reducing feed costs, prevents the depletion of these natural resources and increases employment. Reed fodder is one of the available forage species in many parts of the world, including Iran, and has a good potential for using in livestock feeds. This plant grows abundantly in wetlands and on the banks of most rivers in the country. Despite the severe shortage of livestock feed in Iran, the reed fodder is not used properly in livestock feeds. The crude protein, crude fiber and calcium amounts of reed fodder are 11.4%, 31% and 0.17 %, respectively. A cow weighing 300 kg needs 6 %digestible protein for 500 g daily gain, which reed fodder can supply half of the digestible protein and all the calcium and phosphate. The expansion of the livestock feed industry made it perfect feed for the various stages of growth of the most types of livestock. Complete feed block (CFB) is composed of forage, concentrate, and other supplementary nutrients in a desired proportion, which is capable to fulfill nutrient requirements of animals. The feeding of CFB stabilizes rumen fermentation, minimizes fermentation loss, and ensures better ammonia utilization. Advantages of CFB are using local feed raw materials which are cheaper and easier in distribution, because the distance between the processing place and the farm is closer. Also, it has a competitive advantage compared with commercial feed manufactured in large industrial scale; because, it is more efficient in production, it is lower in transportation costs and easier in storage, and it can reduce operating costs, especially labor. The type of feed will prevent selective feeding of animals;then, nutrients are provided more evenly by rumen microorganisms. There are few studies on the use of reed fodder in complete feed block form. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of diet containing reed fodder (Phragmatis australis) in the form of complete feed block on growth performance of Baluchi lambs.

Thirty male lambs with an average age of 5 to 6 months and weight of 28±2.9 kg were fed with complete diets based on 30% forage and 70% concentrate. The experimental diets were: 1) total mixed ration containing alfalfa hay and wheat straw as the control, 2) complete feed block containing reed fodder as block diet, and 3) total mixed ration containing reed fodder as mixed diet. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with three treatments and 10 replications. Animals were fed the experimental diets for 105 days, and daily feed intake were recorded. A digestion trail for seven days were conducted at the middle of experimental feeding, and daily feed intake and feces excretion were recorded. At the end of experiment, rumen fluid samples were taken from each animal at 3 h after morning feeding. Concentration of NH3-N was determined for rumen fluid samples according to Broderich and Kang (1980), and VFA were analyzed according to Ervin et al. (1961). Rumen fluid was used to direct count of protozoa using the methods of Dehority (2003). The chewing activities were recorded through a visual observation method for a period of 24 h continuously (08:00 to 08:00 the next day) at 5 – min intervals. Blood samples from jugular vein were collected in serum tubes containing anticoagulant agent approximately 4 h after morning feeding.

Feed intake (g/day), weight gain (g/day), and final weight (kg) of lambs fed with control and block diets were higher than those fed with mixed diets (P˂0.05). Apparent digestibility of DM, NDF, ADF, and CP in lambs fed with control and block diets were higher (P˂0.05), but no significant difference was observed between lambs fed with control and block diets. In lambs receiving the mixed diet, the NH3-N concentration was lower and the ratio of acetate to propionate was higher (P˂0.05), but no significant difference was observed between lambs receiving the control and block diets. The pH of rumen fluid as well as concentrations of isovaleric acid and valeric acid were not affected by experimental treatments. The whole rumen protozoa population and the population of Entodiniums and Epidiniums were higher in lambs fed with block diet (P˂0.05), but no significant difference was observed between lambs fed with the control and mixed diets. The concentration of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) was lower in lambs fed with the control and block diets (P˂0.05), but no significant difference was observed between lambs fed with the control and block diets. Other blood metabolites were not affected by experimental diets. The physical form of the feed (block diet) significantly increased the eating rate, ruminating rate, and total activity of the chewing (P˂0.05). Compared to lambs fed with block and mixed diets, lambs fed with control diet spent more time for eating, ruminating, and chewing. Feed conversion ratio of lambs fed with diets containing reed fodder was not affected by the physical form of the feed. Probably the decrease in air temperature during the fattening period affected the feed conversion ratio, and it was more effective for lambs fed with mixed diet with rough feed. The cost of feed per kilogram of live weight gain during the fattening period for each of the control, block, and mixed diets was calculated as 76630, 66360 and 67270 Rials, respectively. Based on these results, the use of reed fodder in the form of cubic blocks was more economical than the other two treatments.

The results of this experiment support the positive effects of using diets containing reed fodder in the form of complete feed block with the lower costs in areas which have the potential for growth of reed fodder.