The effect of replacing rice straw with wheat straw on growth performance , digestibility, fermentation parameters and intestinal histomorphometry in Fattening lambs

Studies has been shown that the replacement of % 30 rice straw with alfalfa hay had no adverse effect on lamb grow performance also it had been shown on the goat and cow performance. The use of rice straw decreases the ration prices also it reduces environmental pollution.The goal of this study was to indicate the effect of replacing rice straw with wheat straw on the fattening lamb performance, rumen fermentation, protozoa population and some blood parameters.

In this research, the effect of replacing rice straw with wheat straw on the fattening lamb feeding has been investigated. The 28 male lambs, with an average weight of 30kg, have been divided into four groups of eight animals. The sample lambs in four groups have different accesses to rice straw and wheat straw as follows: the control group has access to 70% concentrate with 30% wheat straw; the second group has access to 70% concentrate with 30% rice straw; the third group has access to 70% concentrate with 30% straw (including 15% rice straw and 15% wheat straw); and the fourth group has access to 70% concentrate and rice straw enriched with urea. The feedstuffs characteristics, weight gain, feed digestibility, rumen fermentation, and blood parameters of lambs during the fatting season have been measured.

The results show that replacement of different levels of rice straw has no negative effect on the final weight, daily weight gain, feed conversion coefficient, dry matter intake, and economic coefficient of fattening lambs; Besides, this replacement has led to a significant increase in ruminal gas (digestibility) in squirrel lambs. Dry matter percentage, raw fat, protein, and ration consumed NDF of squirrel lambs did not affect by replacement of different levels of rice straw. However, the addition of 30% of refined straw has led to a considerable reduction in digestibility of the raw protein ration of squirrel lambs. The overall protein of lambs’ blood who received the ration consisted of 30% rice straw, 15% rice straw+15% wheat straw, and 30% wheat straw was enhanced. However, no change was observed in blood urea nitrogen, cholesterol, triglyceride, and glucose blood. The small intestinal histomorphometry parameters were improved by the addition of different levels of rice straw. The lambs receiving ration including 15% rice straw+15% wheat straw and 30% refined wheat straw, have higher Dasytricha, Entodiniinae, Diplodiniinae, and Ophrioscolecinae populations than the lambs receiving the control ration. Also, adding different levels of rice straw to lambs’ ration has led to a significant increase in total rumen Protozoa.

The overall results indicate that the rice straw can be utilized in fattening lambs’ ration without affecting the livestock.