Effect of Nutrition Management on Fattening Performance and on Cost Benefit Analysis in Lori-Bakhiari Lambs

Forty-two weaned Lori-Bakhtiari lambs were taken in an investigation for the effects of two-nutritional management methods of restricted vs. re-alimentation feeding on intake, growth and as well on the cost benefit analysis. During the Feed Restriction Period (FRP), the Control (C) animals were fed low-quality roughage ad libitum, plus mixed concentrate. The restricted animals (R) were fed only low-quality roughage. In the Re-Alimentation Periods (RAPs), the lambs due for restricted treatment were divided into two groups of R1 and R2. They received low-quality roughage along with two different levels of concentrate supplement as mentioned before. During restriction period, the C group had a significantly higher (P<0.05) daily gain, daily Dry Matter Intake (DMI) and Matabolizable Energy Intake (MEI) than the restricted group, which maintained thier constant weight. In the RAP and at both concentrate levels, the compensating animals showed the same growth rate as the previous unrestricted ones. Compensating groups benefited from a better FCR than C animals (P<0.05), DMI (g kg-0.75 d-1) with their ADG being similar to C animals. During RAP total of net profit and net income per unit product were lower in C group than those in R1 and R2 (P<0.05), the lowest economic efficiency occurred for the case of C animals and the highest for the case of R2 group (P<0.01).