Comparison of replacing barley grain with olive cake on performance and dry matter digestibility in fattening lambs and kids

Considering that about 70 to 75 percent (in developed countries about 50-60 percent) of the total production costs related to livestock feed, use of agricultural byproducts and conversion, been considered has long. The olive cake is a by-product that can be used as an energy source in sheep and goats and also has high humidity which by drying the olive cake its moisture content is low and keeping it is possible. A little comparison of performance and digestibility has done of the same energy and protein feeds between sheep and goats. The aim of this study, was the replacement of barley with olive cake in the diet of fattening lambs and kids and the investigate effect of it on performance and digestibility between the two species.
This experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with 3×2 factorial arrangement with three diets containing 0,10,20 percent olive cake and both species (fattening lambs and kids). Five lambs and five kids were given to each treatment with the age of about three months. Animals were individually located in separate cages for 84 days (15 days adaptation period). The protein and energy content of diets were equal.
The feed intake in lambs decreased with increasing the levels of olive cake while in kids increased (P According to the results mentioned and low-cost olive cake, use of olive cake up to 20% in lambs and 10% in kids is recommended.