title: Performance and carcass measurements of ewe lambs reared in a feedlot and fed wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) middlings total mixed rations in the summer season.
abstract: The effect of total mixed ratios containing wheat middlings (WM) as a corn grain substitute on the growth performance and carcass traits of Comisana ewe lambs was evaluated. Forty ewe lambs, with average live body weight of 13 ± 0.3 kg (mean ± SEM), were allocated randomly to two isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets for 50 days. Control diet contained 400 g/kg of dry matter (DM) of corn as the main starchy source, whereas experimental diet contained 600 g/kg DM of WM. In vivo nutrient apparent digestibility of the two diets was determined using Comisana rams (mean body weight, 65 ± 2.3 kg) and indicated significant (P < 0.05) differences for neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre, cellulose and hemicellulose fractions. Results from the trial using Comisana ewe lambs showed that growth traits were unaffected by dietary treatments as well as none of the carcass measurements examined (P > 0.05). These findings indicate that WM results as a suitable feed ingredient for growing ewe lambs that can be a satisfactory substitute to conventional grain source.
authors: Department of Animal Production, University of Study of Bari Aldo Moro, Strada Provinciale per Casamassima km 3, 70010 Valenzano, Bari, Italy. v.tufarelli@veterinaria.uniba.it
authors: Vincenzo
authors: V
authors: Tufarelli
authors: Rifat Ullah
authors: RU
authors: Khan
authors: Domenico
authors: D
authors: Mazzei
authors: Vito
authors: V
authors: Laudadio
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis*; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000592:standards*; D012621:Seasons; D012756:Sheep / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D014908:Triticum / Q000378:metabolism*