Rumen development and growth of Balouchi lambs offered alfalfa hay pre- and post-weaning

Abstract

The consumption of solid feed is essential for successful transition from a pre-ruminant to a functional digestive tract. Lambs fed starter rations containing highly fermentable carbohydrates often experience dramatic changes in concentrations of rumen and blood metabolites. The optimal amount of roughage required in the diet of pre-ruminant animals is still unclear. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of feeding alfalfa hay on performance and rumen development in young Balouchi lambs. In a completely randomized design, 30 lambs were fed one of three experimental diets consisting of a control, without alfalfa hay (C), a diet containing 7.5% alfalfa hay (A1), and a diet containing 15% alfalfa hay (A2). Lambs fed A1 and A2 diets had lower dry matter intake during the pre-weaning period (P < 0.01) and overall (P = 0.02), but feed conversion ratio and average daily gain were not affected by feeding alfalfa hay. Concentration of beta-hydroxybutyric acid was higher in C compared with the A1 and A2 groups (P < 0.01). Concentrations of glucose and non-esterified fatty acids did not differ among the groups of animals. Feeding alfalfa hay reduced thickness of the rumen epithelial keratinized layer (P = 0.04) and increased thickness of muscular layer (P = 0.05). We concluded that including 15% alfalfa hay in the starter diet could reduce thickness of the keratinization layer and increase muscularity of rumen wall without adverse effects on growth and performance of newborn lambs.

Effects of pistachio by-products in replacement of alfalfa hay on ruminal fermentation, blood metabolites, and milk fatty acid composition in Saanen dairy goats fed a diet containing fish oil

“…In their study of growing lambs, Norouzian et al (2011), however, found no effect of inclusion of 30% PBP on DMI. Studies of early lactation dairy cows have shown no effect on DMI when 15% PBP (ensiled or dried) was included in the diet (Bohluli et al 2009;Rezaeenia et al 2012).…”

Growth performance, carcass and meat quality of Karayaka female lambs born in different seasons

“…Thus, the carcass yield showed a decrease in lambs born in the autumn. The differences between the groups in terms of heart, liver, reticulo-rumen and small intestine which are defined as supply organs may be explained by the fact that lambs born in the autumn received the solid feed earlier than those born in the winter due to pasture access (Norouzian et al 2011).…”

Effects of pistachio by‐products in replacement of alfalfa hay on populations of rumen bacteria involved in biohydrogenation and fermentative parameters in the rumen of sheep

“…While PBP is high in crude protein (158.2 g/kg) and ether extract (EE) (69.5 g/kg) and hence a valuable feed for ruminants (Behgar et al, 2009), its nutritive value is subject to variation due to de-hulling process, pistachio cultivar and growing conditions (Bagheripour et al, 2008). Pistachio by-products (sun-dried or as silage) have recently come to be used in diets for dairy cows (15% DM, PBP) (Mokhtarpour et al, 2012), growing calves (18% DM, PBP) (Shakeri et al, 2012) and sheep (30% DM, PBP) (Norouzian et al, 2011). Phenolic compounds and tannins have been defined as secondary metabolites of PBP (Bohluli et al, 2009;Ghasemi et al, 2012b).…”