Effect of drench with flaxseed oil with different ratio of concentrate to roughage on economic efficiency and some growth characteristics of Iraqi Awassi lambs

Abstract

This experiment was conducted in the Hawija district which is located in the southwest of Kirkuk city, 48 km away. It aimed to determine the effect of the concentrated feed ratio to roughage feed (Alfalfa ) with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid oil (flaxseed oil) on some blood parameters indicative of the nutritional effect in Iraqi Awassi lambs. The experiment lasted for 106 days from September 18, 2020 to December 31, 2020, in which 20 lambs aged 5-6 months with an mean initial weight of 29.60±1.88 kg were used. The lambs were placed in individual cages within a semi-open barn, then divided into four groups(29.15, 30.13, 29.62, 29.52) kg. then the four treatments were randomly distributed to the groups. The lambs were fed on one diet of concentrated feed with a protein content of 15.4% and a feeding level of 3% of body weight, then calculated The ratios of concentrated feed at a level of 40/60% to roughage for the first and second treatments and 60/40% to roughage for the third and fourth treatments and the four treatments were equal in the amount of protein intake, each of the first and third treatments drenched with flaxseed oil 0.8% of body weight and 0% each the second and fourth treatments, the animals were weighed weekly to estimate the weight gain. There was no significant effect (P≤0.05)) for different ratio of concentrate to roughage and flaxseed oil drench or interaction between factors on growth characteristics (initial weight, average daily gain, final weight, total gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio). According to the results of this experiment and Referring to the type of feed and cost of the ration provided to the animal with an estimate of the weight gain in the experimental. Providing a diet consisting of a high percentage of roughage (Alfalfa) to concentrate 60/40% does not effect on the production performance, but it reduces the costs of the forage, which achieves economic efficiency in raising and feeding sheep at this level.