Investigation of nutrition rumen digesta of cattle and sheep on growth performance, carcass quantitative and qualitative traits and some blood parameters ‌of Dalagh fattening lambs

Ruminal digesta is the nutrients consumed by the animal prior to slaughter, which is processed almost exclusively by rumination and exposure to the various enzymes and protozoa present in the rumen and a complete, ready-to-digest feed. After being processed, it is possible to re-feed it to ruminant animals. The use of digestive leftovers from slaughtered cattle could be a cheap, nutritious, and accessible alternative to the conventional feed ingredients. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of replacing cattle and sheep rumen digesta with alternative feed ingredients on the growth performance, carcass quantitative and qualitative traits, and some blood parameters of Dalagh fattening lambs.

A total of 24 Dalagh fattening male lambs at the age of 4.5 months, with a mean live weight of 27 ± 2.0 kg, were assigned to 6 treatments and four replications in individual cages for 90 days. Experimental treatments consisted of: 1) control, without rumen digesta of cattle and sheep, 2) 15% rumen digesta of cattle, 3) 30% rumen digesta of cattle, 4) 15% rumen digesta of sheep, 5) 30% rumen digesta of sheep, and 6) 15% rumen digesta of cattle, and 15% rumen digesta of sheep.

The results showed that daily gain and FCR were significantly different between treatments at the end of experiment (P <0.05). The highest daily weight gain and final body weight as well as the improving feed conversion ratio were observed in the treatment containing 30% rumen digesta of sheep. The results of body biometric showed that body length was significantly higher in the treatment contaning 30% rumen digesta of sheep, compared to the control (P <0.05). The results of quantitative carcass traits showed that treatment containing 30% rumen digesta of sheep in hot carcass weight, cold carcass weight, and crustacean were significantly higher than the control treatment (P <0.05). The results of some blood parameters of day 90 showed that there was a significant difference in the concentrations of glucose, cholesterol, BUN, and total protein between the experimental treatments (P <0.05). Therefore, in the treatment containing 30% of rumen digesta of sheep, the concentration of desired parameters was higher.

The results of this study showed that the use of rumen dried digesta in the diet of fattening lamb was effective in improving growth performance; especially live weight gain, FCR and carcass traits. Consumption of dried rumen digesta of sheep also had a significant effect on some blood parameters of experimental lambs. Similarly, 30% of rumen digesta of sheep had a better performance than other levels.