• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제14권10호
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• pp.1394-1399
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• 2001

Influence of pre-weaning nutrition on post-weaning gain was assesses under intensive feeding in Malpura lambs. Thirty six Malpura (15 days old) lambs divided in to 3 equal groups were maintained on high (G1), medium (G2) and low (G3) energy and protein containing creep mixture with free suckling and ad libitum roughage (pala leaves: Ziziphus nummularia) up to 90 days of age. The lambs during post-weaning phase were fed on a 40:60 roughage and concentrate based composite diet to assess their post-weaning growth response. Total dry matter intake in pre-weaning phase was higher (p<0.01) in G3 than G2 and G1 while feed conversion efficiency was better in G1 than G2 and G3. The birth weight, 15 days body weight and weaning weight were however similar in the three groups. The finishing body weight, total body weight gain and average daily gain during post-weaning phase were higher (p<0.01) in G3 than in G1 and G2. The lambs in G3 consumed more (p<0.01) dry matter during post-weaning phase along with better feed conversion efficiency than other two groups. However, the DCP intake/kg body weight gain was higher in G1 than G2 and G3. Digestibility of DM, OM, CP, NDF, ADF and energy were similar among the three groups during post-weaning phase. Percent nitrogen retention as nitrogen intake was higher (p<0.01) in G3 (71.1%) than G1 (67.7%) and G2 (69.7%) during the post-weaning phase of study. The G1, G2 and G3 lambs in post-weaning phase consumed 8.1, 7.7 and 8.1 g DCP and 246.8, 227.2 and 246.1 kcal $DE/kg\;W^{0.75}/d$ and had 84.4, 80.0 and 111.1 g average daily gain, respectively. It is concluded that the lambs fed on low energy and protein containing creep mixture in pre-weaning phase showed improvement in growth during post-weaning phase under optimum feeding regime.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제32권11호
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• pp.1695-1704
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• 2019

Objective: This study investigated the effects of the administration of ethanolic saffron petal extract (SPE) and vitamin E (Vit E) on growth performance, blood metabolites and anti-oxidant status in Baluchi lambs. Methods: Thirty-two Baluchi male lambs ($35.22{\pm}5.75kg$) were randomly divided into 4 groups. The 1st (control), 2nd (injectable saffron petal extract [ISPE]), and 3rd (Vit E) groups were respectively injected subcutaneously with either physiological saline (5 mL), SPE (25 mg/kg body weight [BW]) or DL-${\alpha}$-tocopheryl acetate (225 IU) once a week. An oral dose of SPE (500 mg/kg BW) was also administered to the 4th group (oral saffron petal extract [OSPE]). Feed intake and BW were measured for 42 days and blood samples were taken on days 1, 14, 28, and 42. The lambs were slaughtered, and tissue samples were taken. Results: Growth performance and many blood metabolites were not affected (p>0.05) by the treatments. Cholesterol of plasma in the ISPE and Vit E groups was similar and less (p<0.01) than both the OSPE and control groups. Although there was no significant difference between the control and other groups for plasma triglyceride, the ISPE group showed lower (p<0.05) triglyceride than the OSPE and Vit E groups. The highest (p<0.01) plasma glutathione peroxidase (GPx) was detected in the OSPE group, while the ISPE and Vit E groups showed higher (p<0.01) superoxide dismutase (SOD) of plasma than the control. Malondialdehyde of plasma in the ISPE group was lower (p<0.05) than the OSPE. No differences (p>0.05) were observed among the groups for antioxidant status of both longissimus dorsi muscle and liver. However, the activity of GPx in the kidney and heart, as well as SOD activity in the kidney, were influenced ($p{\leq}0.01$) by the treatments. Conclusion: Adding ethanolic SPE improved antioxidant status and lowered lipids oxidation in lambs. The SPE and Vit E demonstrated similar effects on antioxidant status in lambs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.284-289
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• 2014

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the ingestive behavior of lambs confined in individual and group stalls. We used thirty-four lambs in their growing phase, aged an average of three months, with mean initial live weight of $17.8{\pm}5.2$ kg. They were allotted in a completely randomized design with 24 animals kept in individual stalls and 10 animals confined as a group. The experiment lasted for a total of 74 days, and the first 14 days were dedicated to the animals' adaption to the management, facilities and diets. The data collection period lasted 60 days, divided into three 20-d periods for the behavior evaluation. The animals were subjected to five days of visual observation during the experiment period, by the quantification of 24 h a day, with evaluations on the 15th day of each period and an interim evaluation consisting of two consecutive days on the 30th and 31st day of the experiment. The animals confined as a group consumed less (p<0.05) fiber. However, the animals confined individually spent less (p<0.05) time on feeding, rumination and chewing activities and longer in idleness. Therefore, the lower capacity of lambs confined in groups to select their food negatively affects their feeding behavior.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제3권4호
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• pp.299-303
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• 1990

Twenty-four Harnai lambs 6 to 7 month old, weighing $16{\pm}2kg$ were used in a completely randomized design in growth and digestibility trials to study fourwing saltbush ratio supplemented with cotton seed cake. The animal were divided at random into three groups of 8 animals each. Three iso-nitrogenous (10.5% CP) experimental rations (1, 2 and 3) containing wheat straw + lucerne hay (24:76); fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens) + cotton seed cake (71:29); and wheat straw + cottonseed cake (41:59); respectively, were allotted to each group randomly. All the animals were taken out for grazing in a dormant native range for about 3 hours in the afternoon during the growth trial. The growth trial lasted for 8 weeks followed by a digestibility trial. At the end of 8 weeks lambs on ration 3 had gained significantly (p<0.10) more weight compared to those on rations 1 and 2 which maintained their body weight. The crude protein digestibility of the fourwing saltbush based ration was comparable with the other two treatments (71 vs 70 and 71%). However, the digestibility of dry matter (41%), acid detergent fibre (13%) and neutral detergent fibre (22%) of this ration was significantly lower (p<0.10) than the other two diets. The results suggest that lambs can be maintained on fourwing saltbush during winter without significant loss in body weight with 30% extra protein concentrate supplementation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.27-31
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• 1988

Thirty five crossbred male lambs of about 8 months age, with an average body weight of 24 kg were divided into 7 groups of 5 lambs each and were fed urea molasses blocks (UMB) for 150 days (groups 1 to 5); having, 4, 6, 8 and 10% urea respectively; while group 6 was fed concentrate @318 g per head daily and 7th group was kept as control i.e. grazing only. Daily consumption of UMB/concentrate was found to be 318, 246, 211, 93 and 318 g/d for groups 1 to 6, respectively. The statistical differences in consumption between group 1 and group 6, and group 2, 3 and 4 were found to be non-significant. Only group 5 differed statistically from all other groups. The average daily gain was 48, 29, 39, 38, 25 and 66 grams for groups 1 to 6 respectively, while group no. 7 lost 11 g/head/day. The differences in weight gain among groups 1, 3, 4 and 6 were non significant. The expenditure per kg body weight gain was found to be ($Rs^C$) 9.53, 12.45, 8.05, 7.99, 3.69 and 10.85 for groups 1 to 6, respectively.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제3권3호
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• pp.177-182
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• 1990

A reproductive potential trial using randomized complete block design with $3{\times}3{\times}2$ factorial, was conducted on 84 Baluchi yearling ewes. Ewes grazed on rangeland dominated by Artemisia maritime and Holoxylon grifthii with or without flushing and supplementation of barley grain (BG) and cotton-seed-cake (CSC) during premating, late pregnancy and lactation of 90 days. Analysis of variance revealed that conception rate which ranged 64.28 to 85.71, was significantly greater (p<.05) in ewes flushed with CSC followed by ewes under BG or control feeding regimes. During the gestation period, liveweight of ewes changed from 31.24 to 21.2 kg. A loss of 32% of initial body weight was observed at lambing. Losses in live weight of ewes, regardless the supplementation, were uniform and non-significantly different. Live weight of ewes at lambing and weaning were also similar. Birth weight of lambs was significantly different at p<.05. Lambs born to larger ewes seemed to be heavier than lighter ones. Lambs suckling to ewes with losses in body weight during lactation gained more weight which was significantly different at p<.05. In the paper, factors affecting the conception rate, changes in liveweight of ewes during gestation and lactation and subsequently growth of lambs are discussed.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제64권2호
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• pp.274-290
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• 2022

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of ferulic acid (FA) and clinoptilolite (CTL) supplementation on the growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of hair-breed lambs. Twenty-eight Kathadin male lambs (33.72 ± 3.4 kg) were randomly allocated to one of the four diets (n=7) under a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement to evaluate the effect of FA (0 or 300 ppm) and CTL (0% or 1%) during the last 40 days of the finishing phase. No interaction between additives was shown for growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality, with exception of the fatty acid profile (p < 0.05). FA reduced feed intake and carcass conformation (p < 0.05). Wholesale cuts were not affected by FA or CTL (p > 0.05). The L^*, a^*, and C^* color parameters and some intramuscular fatty acids of the longissimus thoracis muscle were positively modified by CTL supplementation (p < 0.05). While there was no FA × CTL interaction, each additive could be used individually in animal nutrition to improve the feedlot performance and meat quality of the lambs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.218-226
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• 2013

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the intake, nutrient apparent digestibility and the effect of total collection days (two and four days) on apparent digestibility estimates for lambs fed diets containing sugar cane treated with calcium oxide (CaO). Eight Santa In$\hat{e}$s castrated male lambs with a $16.6{\pm}1.8$ kg body weight were used. The lambs were distributed in two $4{\times}4$ Latin squares, with four experimental periods of 14 d each. The animals were kept in 1.2 $m^2$ individual pens, and the intake and digestibility evaluations were performed during the last four days of each period. The diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous, containing 14% crude protein (CP), and presenting 70% sugar cane treated with 0, 0.75, 1.5 or 2.25% of CaO (as-fed basis), corrected with 1% urea, and 30% concentrate. The sugar cane with added CaO was chopped, treated, and offered to the animals after 24 h of storage. The sugar cane with CaO increased the DM, OM, CP, NDF, NDFap, TC, NFCap and TDN intake (kg/d), when compared to natural sugar cane, and produced the same intake expressed as a percentage of body weight (% BW). The NFCap digestibility of the CaO-treated sugar cane was inferior to the NFCap digestibility in natural sugar cane. There was a linear increase in the DM intake with the CaO-added sugar cane, but the DM and NDF digestibility and the TDN content decreased linearly. The chemical treatment of sugar cane with CaO increases the intake but does not improve the nutrient digestibility. Two days of total fecal collection were found to be sufficient to estimate the total apparent digestibility in lambs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제16권5호
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• pp.665-671
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• 2003

A factorial experiment was conducted to assess nutrient utilization by growing lambs maintained on three levels each of digestible energy (high: HE, medium: ME, low: LE) and protein (high: HP, medium: MP, low: LP) in nine combinations (HEHP, HEMP, HELP, MEHP, MEMP, MELP, LEHP, LEMP, LELP). The experiment was conducted during the hot season in a semiarid location. Daily dry matter intake (DMI) was similar in all the groups in terms of unit body weight or metabolic body size. Digestibility of DM and nitrogen free extract increased (p<0.01) from low to medium and high energy regimen while the CF digestibility followed a reverse trend. The digestibility of crude protein (CP) decreased from high to medium and low protein regimens while it was similar in terms of energy variation. Nitrogen intake was higher in high followed by medium and low protein regime while fecal and urinary nitrogen loss were similar in all the treatment groups. Lambs in all the three levels of protein were in positive N balance and percent N retention was higher (p<0.01) in high followed by medium and low protein levels whereas it was similar in terms of energy variation. Initial body weight was similar in all the groups while final weight, total gain in the experiment and average daily gain (ADG) were higher in high than medium and low energy regimens. It is concluded that crossbred lambs required 75.1 g DM, 9.6 g CP, 6.3 g DCP and 711 KJ DE/kg W $^{0.75}$or 11.0 g CP/MJ DE or 7.2 g DCP/MJ DE for 93 g average daily gain in a hot semiarid environment.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제17권5호
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• pp.693-699
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• 2004

Live animal selection programs that favor animals with a minimum amount of carcass fat are used for improving breeding flocks of sheep. To predict carcass characteristics of live sheep using body measurements in breeding flocks, 200 male and female lambs of two fat-tailed Iranian sheep breeds (Moghani and Makui) were used. Depth of soft tissue over the 12th rib of the live animals was measured with ultrasound (ULGR) and with hypodermic needle (NGR). The height at withers (HW), body length (BL), circumference of heart girth (CH) and width of hooks (WH), were measured. All animals were slaughtered; carcasses were cut into joints and dissected. Breed had a significant effect on all of the live easurements. The Moghani breed showed a higher value for HW, CH, ULGR and NGR, compared to that of Makui. Except for soft tissue depths; ULGR, NGR and GR, the male lambs showed higher values in live and carcass measurements than females. Percentages of carcass, total fat and intermuscular fat in females were higher than that of male lambs. In spite of the higher amount of subcutaneous and intermuscular fat in female (which is usually used for their physiological need, such as pregnancy and lactation), the male lambs had a heavier fat-tail than females. There was a wide range of variation of percentage of total carcass fat and total chemical fat content of carcass in the two breeds. Eventually this wide variation could be use by animal breeders for selection of animals with a lesser amount of carcass fat. Live weight of lambs showed a relatively low correlation with percentage of carcass lean, total fat and subcutaneous and intermuscular fat. Total lean meat was predicted with relatively high coefficients of determination in the two breeds ($R^2$=0.61 and 0.89, respectively). Live weight and carcass traits were predicted using simple measurements, but with $R^2$ ranging from 0.53 to 0.93.