Evaluating the Rations Containing of Corn, Triticale and Oat Silages on the Growth Performance and Semen Quality of Ram Lambs

Abstract

The present work investigated the effect of corn, triticale, and oat silages on the growth performance, puberty, and semen quality of male lamb. At the age of 4-5 months, twenty- four crossbred male lambs (half Finnish Landrace and half Rahmani) weighing22.09±0.37kg live body weight were allocated into three groups, each with eight lambs. Male lambs were fed concentrate feed mixture (CFM) plus silages of corn (R1), triticale (R2), and oat (R3) for five months in each of the different groups. The quantity of CFM at the beginning of the experiment was 500 g/day, with an increase of 100 g every month, whereas silages were given ad-libtum. According to the findings, R1 consumed much less CP than R2 and R3, but R2 and R3 consumed significantly more DM and TDN. For lambs fed by R3, compared to R1 and R2, the final body weight, total weight increase, and average daily gain were all considerably (P0.05) greater. Feed conversion improved significantly (P<0.05) with feeding R2 and R3. Male lambs of R3 expressed first ejaculate (puberty) at 35.6 days earlier, which was significantly earlier than those of the control (R1). Also, scrotal circumference and testes volume of R2 and R3 were significantly (P<0.05) increased compared with R1. Semen quality of R3 and R2 was improved (P<0.05) compared to R1. Finally, the addition of triticale or oat silages had an economic to be advantage, puberty at an earlier age, improved the growth performance and reproductive ability of male lambs compared to corn silage. We concluded that, the addition of triticale or oat silage had an economic advantage compared to corn silage. Also, male lambs fed on triticale or oat silage had puberty at an earlier age and improved their growth performance and reproductive ability.