Global Advanced Research Journal of Agricultural Science (GARJAS) ISSN: 2315-5094
April 2016 Vol. 5(4): pp. 126-131
Copyright © 2016 Global Advanced Research Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effects of intake restriction and realimentation on diet digestion and ruminal fermentation by growing lambs

Mohamed Abouheif^1*, Hussain Al-Sornokh¹, Ayman Swelum^1,2, Tarek Shafey¹ Ahmed Mahmoud³, Faisal Alshamiry¹ and Raafat Haroon¹

¹Department of Animal production, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences,  King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.

²Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, 44519, Egypt.

³Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455,  Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia

Email: abouheif@yahoo.com

Accepted 11 April, 2016

Abstract

A total of 15 lambs weighing 41.6±1.34 kg were used in this experiment to determine the effects of intake restriction and realimentation on nutrient digestibility and ruminal fluid characteristics. During the preliminary and first collection periods, lambs were assigned randomly to one of the three treatments, viz. ad libitum intake, 0.90 and 0.80 of ad libitum intake. During the second collection period (realimentation period), all lambs were fed ad libitum. Total tract digestibility of DM, NDF and ADF were not affected by restriction level, whereas digestion of CP increased (P<0.01) for the restricted lambs compared with ad libitum. During restriction, fecal N excretion by the 0.80 ad libitum was lesser (P<0.01) than ad libitum lambs. Urinary N excretion was similar between ad libitum and the restricted fed lambs. Ruminal pH and ammonia N were similar for both restricting intakes at 2h and 4h post feeding compared with ad libitum intake. Total concentration of VFA was lower (P<0.01) for 0.80 ad libitum than for ad libitum at 2 and 4h postfeeding. In realimentation period, no effect was observed in relation to previous feed restriction on pH, ammonia-N and VFA concentrations. The results concluded that a 10 or 20% intake restriction followed by realimentation lead to improvements in ADG and these changes could not be attributed to changes in digestibility or ruminal characteristics.

Keywords: limit-feeding, Realimentation, Digestibility, Nitrogen balance.