Effect of dietary supplementation of spineless cactus on some productive parameters and digestion of Awwasi sheep

Abstract

This study was carried out at the sheep research unit – Alshami-Camel station, Syria, in 2019.Three(3) Awassi homogenous rams in term of Age (2.2±0.3) and weight (70±2.3) kg were selected in order to investigate the effect of including the spinless cactus in the rations of Awassi sheep on dry matter intake (DMI), digestibility, and Nitrogen balance. The study employed a(3*3) Latin square statistical design where Rams were kept individually in metabolism crates that enable the separation of faeces and urine completely. The experiment Which lasted for 52 days, included 3 periode,10 days apart. As a preliminary period before the onset of taking measurement in the 7 days that follow. The control ration( C) consisted of Afalfa hay + concentrate while in the other two ration T(10%) and T1(20%)  on the basis of DM were substituted with spinless cactus.Results showed that the inclusion of spinless cactus had a significant effect (p<0.05) on DMI when the control treatment( C) was compared to the experimental treatment TandT1.There was also a significant increase (p<0.05) in the  digestibility of crude protein by (7.67-11.98%)for T,T1 when compared to the control treatment C.Regarding the digestibility of Nitrogen Free Extract .T was significantly (p<0.05) superior when compared to( C) treatment .Nitrogen balance was positive in all treatment ,however TandT1treatment significantly(p<0.05)surpassed the control( C) treatment and the highest value(18.66%) was for T.