Commercial Concentrate Supplementation in Phan Rang Sheep Diets: Effects on Digestibility Traits, Growth and Carcass Performance
Commercial Concentrate Supplementation in Phan Rang Sheep Diets: Effects on Digestibility Traits, Growth and Carcass Performance
Nguyen Huu Van1*, Nguyen Thi Mui1, Dinh Van Dung1, Van Ngoc Phong1, Tran Ngoc Long1, Le Tran Hoan1, Le Duc Thao1, Vo Thi Minh Tam1, Ngo Mau Dung1, Bui Van Loi1, Nguyen Xuan Ba1, Ton Nu Minh Thi2, Nishino Naoki2
ABSTRACT
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of using different levels of commercial concentrate in the diet on nutrient digestibility, rumen volatile fatty acid (VFA) profile, growth and carcass performance of Phan Rang sheep raised in Ninh Thuan province, Vietnam. Twenty-five intact male Phan Rang sheep averaging body weight of 15.4 ± 1.3 (SD) kg/animal were randomly assigned to five groups with different levels of concentrate, including: control (C) (ad libitum access to grass feeding); 0.75% (control plus 0.75% of concentrate); 1.5% (control plus 1.5% of concentrate); 2.25% (control plus 2.25% of concentrate) and 3.0% (control plus 3.0% of concentrate) as a percentage of live weight on dry matter basis. Fifteen lambs (three of each treatment) were slaughtered at the end of the experiment (90th day). The results indicated that dry matter intake (%DM/kgLW) and daily gain weight (DGW) of the animals increased linearly as concentrate level increased in the diet. The average DGW of the animals was significantly higher in treatments 3.0% and 2.25% (161.3g/day and 117.1g/day, respectively). Concentrate supplement had significant effects on apparent digestibility of the animals where crude protein (CP) digestibility increased as concentrate level increased, whereas digestibility of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) decreased. There were no significant differences in pH values, ammonia and VFA concentrations in rumen fluid between treatments before and 4h after feeding. The pH values remained in critical rumen pH range of 6.0-7.0 for optimum microbial growth and nutrient utilization. Hence, this study demonstrated that increasing concentrate levels in the diets for Phan Rang sheep up to 2.25% or 3.0% of live weight increased DGW, carcass performance and improved economic benefit for farmers without any adverse effects on nutrient digestibility and rumen fermentation of the animals.
Keywords | Phan Rang sheep, Concentrate, Rumen fermentation, Digestibility, Growth, Carcass
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January 2024
Vol. 12, Iss. 1, pp. 1-193
