Effect of Ensiling and Urea Treatment of Wild ‎Reed Phragmites communis on Productive ‎Performance of Awassi Lambs

Abstract

This study was conducted using 24 Awassi male lambs at 4-6 months of age and mean initial weight of 20.59 kg, to investigate the effect of ensiling of wild reed and level of urea (0, 1 or 2%) on productive performance of lambs. Results revealed that lambs fed reed consumed higher (P˂0.01) amounts of of all nutrients except digestible DM. Whereas, intake of roughage and total nitrogen (N) and total digestible N were affected (P˂0.01) by urea treatment. Intake of all nutrients was significantly affected by interaction between ensiling and urea treatment as well. Final weight, total and daily gain were not affected by ensiling and level of urea, corresponding values were, 25.93, 78.86 and 5.52 for lambs fed reed silage vs. 27.18 kg, 86.83 g/day and 6.07 kg for reed respectively. Final weight gain was not affected by interaction between ensiling and level of urea, whereas, lambs fed reed treated with low level of urea gained higher average final and daily gain. Ensiling was significantly superior in feed conversion ratio (FCR) estimated on basis of DM intake (7.74 vs, 8.86). Better (P<0.05) FCR was associated with lower level of urea. Lambs fed untreated reed silage recorded better FCR in comparison with other lambs. Ensiling improved digestibility coefficients of most nutrients, whereas, it decreased (P<0.05) CP digestibility, 67.03 and 69.59% for silage and reed, respectively. Digestibility was also affected by urea treatment, where, better values were generally achieved with 1% of urea except those of fiber components, in which, 2% level of urea was superior (P<0.01) in hemicellulose digestibility