Effects of using ensiled total mixed ration based on fodder beet on performance, digestibility and blood parameters in fattening Zell lambs

Ensiling total mixed ration has been a sustainable alternative to efficiently handle high wet feeds such as fodder beet in ruminant diets. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of using fodder beet in the form of total mixed ration silage on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility and blood metabolites of fattening Zell lambs and compare it’s with conventional diets.

Fourteen Zell male lambs (3–4 months of age and 19.48± 2.20 kg BW) were randomly allocated to 1 of 2 experimental diets with the same nutrients. Experimental diets containing control diet based on alfalfa and wheat straw (CD) and total mixed ration silage based on fodder beet (TMRS). Diets were fed three times daily in three equal portions over a 9-weeks assay following a 2-weeks adaptation period. Lambs were weighed immediately before the morning feeding at the beginning and at 3-weeks intervals until end of the experimental period. At the end of fattening period, the lambs were used to evaluate nutrient digestibility in response to feeding experimental diets. Furthermore, blood samples were collected from the Jugular veins of the lambs for measuring of glucose, total protein, albumin and liver enzymes such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST).

At the end of experiment, average body weight and daily weight gain of lambs were not affected by experimental diets, but feed intake was tended to greater for TMRS group (975.1 g/d) than CD group (845.4 g/d) (P=0.09). Feed conversion ratio of lambs in CD group was greater (5.89 vs. 6.86) than TMRS group (P=0.05). There was no difference in digestibility of dry matter and organic matter across experimental diets, but digestibility of neutral detergent fiber in TMRS group was greater than CD group (40.5 vs. 33.7 %). The lambs fed CD had higher albumin concentration (p<0.01), and glucose and ALT were tended to greater (P=0.09) than those fed TMRS, however, concentration of total protein and AST were not affected by diets.

It was concluded that storage of fodder beet by total mixed ration silage method is associated with an optimal fermentation and it seem to be an appropriate method for long-term storage while maintaining quality. The lambs fed with TMRS diet than those fed with CD diet had similar final weight and daily weight gain and more feed intake.Keywords: Digestibility, fattening, fodder beet, performance, silage, total mixed ration.