Effect of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) leaves on productive performance of growing lambs

Abstract

Eighteen 4-month-old lambs, with a mean live weight (LW) of 19.47 ± 0.20 kg, were used to evaluate the nutritive value of date palm leaves (DPL) ensiled with different additives in a completely randomized design. Lambs were stratified into three groups of 6 lambs each and fed a control diet comprising 60% concentrate feed mixture (CFM) and 40% DPL silage (T1). In other treatments, the DPL silage (DPLS) of the control treatment was replaced with EM1 additive-treated DPLS (T2) or El-Mofeed additive-treated DPLS (T3). Apparent digestibility, total digestible nutrient, digestible crude protein, dry matter intake, daily weight gain (DWG), price of DWG, daily profit, and economics of feed efficiency were higher (P < 0.05) for the additives-treated DPLS relative to the control, with T2 enhancing these parameters compared with T3. With exception of ruminal pH, which was reduced, concentrations of ruminal NH3-N and total volatile fatty acids (VFA) increased 4 h post feeding. However, ruminal NH3-N and total VFA were greater (P < 0.05) for the additives-treated DPLS, with T2 producing higher values than T3. Ruminal pH and feed cost/kg LW gain were lower for T2 relative to other treatments. Blood constituents were within the normal ranges for lambs, though slightly altered by treatments. Whereas serum total protein, albumin, and globulin were affected (P < 0.05) in this rank order, T1 < T3 < T2, other serum parameters were not affected. Relative feed cost and relative daily profit were lower and higher respectively for T2 than for T3. It is concluded that additives-treated DPLS is nutritionally superior to untreated DPLS as a roughage source in total mixed rations fed to growing lambs. However, for improved performance of the lambs and economic benefits, EM1-treated DPLS is recommended.

Using probiotics to improve the utilization of chopped dried date palm leaves as a feed in diets of growing Farafra lambs

“…Semi-arid and arid areas have difficult conditions including low rainfall, resulting in low livestock production with low quality forages ( 1 ) making trees and shrubs as sources of small ruminants feed ( 2 ). Moreover, in many countries, including Egypt, there is a shortage of feed availability, making the use of unusual feeds and agricultural byproducts as critical options for animal feed ( 3 ). The main challenge of using such resources is their low nutritive value ( 4 ).…”

Economic evaluation and productive performance of lambs finished with concentrate and corn stover

“…The experimental diets' production costs (US$ t 1 MS) were calculated multiplying the price (US$/ t 1 MS) of the ingredients by the amount (t 1 ) used in each diet, adding the total at the end. Subsequently, some of the economic parameters described below were estimated using the methodology proposed by Mahrous et al (2021). The feed cost was estimated multiplying the diet cost times the total DMI in the period, while the gross value per TWG was determined multiplying the total gain in the period times the kg price of live lamb (US$2.1).…”

“…2 difference between profit of total weight gain and total DM intake cost(Mahrous et al, 2021); 3 Gross profit margin/Total DM intake  100(Mahrous et al, 2021); S.E.M.Standard error of mean.…”

The sustainable mitigation of in vitro ruminal biogas emissions by ensiling date palm leaves and rice straw with lactic acid bacteria and Pleurotus ostreatus for cleaner livestock production

“…Therefore, treatments of the DPL are required to improve the nutritive values for feeding to ruminants. Many studies evaluated various physical, chemical and biological treatments to improve DPL and rice straw (RS) for their utilization as ruminant feeds (Mahrous et al, 2021). Overcoming the inherent barriers to ruminal microbial fermentation is the basic key to improve the use of low-quality agriculture by-products for ruminants (Abdel-Aziz et al, 2015).…”