Differences among dietary protein levels suggested in the literature point out to the need for better evaluation of protein requirements of growing lambs, raised in drylot on a high-concentrate diet. This study evaluates the influence of crude protein (CP) levels in high concentrate diets on performance and carcass traits of ram lambs, confined for 56 days. Forty eight (48) Santa Ines lambs (initial body weight 18.4 ± 0.4 kg; 86 ± 2 days old) were fed 4 experimental diets containing 14, 16, 18 or 20% CP, in a completely randomized block design. Diets consisted of 80% concentrate and 20% sugarcane bagasse. There were no differences in average daily gain: values of 228, 220, 230 and 231 g d-1 were obtained for diets containing 14, 16, 18 and 20% CP, respectively. There were no differences in dry matter intake and feed conversion: values were 1.03; 1.02; 1.08 and 1.10 kg d-1; 4.19; 4.28; 4.35 and 4.44 kg DM kg-1 gain for diets with 14, 16, 18 and 20% CP, respectively. Plasma urea nitrogen concentrations increased linearly as diets contained more CP. There were no differences in carcass traits.

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Performance of Santa Ines lambs fed diets of variable crude protein levels

Effect of dietary energy density on growth performance and slaughtering characteristics of fattening Awassi lambs

Bitter vetch grains as a substitute for soybean meal for growing lambs

Sixty male lambs were used in this experiment to study the effect of energy level of diets on the performance, nutrient digestibility and carcass traits for 90 days. The animals were allotted into 3 groups, 4 animals per each. The first group was fed a medium energy diet (3.20 Mcal/kg diet), while the second group fed on diet contained high energy level (3.50 Mcal/kg diet) and the third group fed on low energy diet (2.90 Mcal/kg diet). All diets contained 14.70% crude protein in dry matter. The average daily feed intake was affected significantly (P < 0.05) by the level of energy and lambs group fed on low energy ration had significantly (P < 0.05) increased feed intake compared with other treatment groups. Lambs that received the highest energy level diet had a higher significant (P < 0.05) average daily gain than that received the medium and low energy diets. Feed conversion was deteriorated in lambs group fed on low energy diet. The digestion coefficient of nutrients and total digestible nutrient were increased significantly (P < 0.05) with high-energy diet. Dressing percentage and body fat was increased with feeding high dietary energy. It could be concluded that the high dietary energy produced the best performance, nutrient digestibility and carcass traits of lambs in addition to economical benefit.

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Effect of different dietary energy levels on the performance and nutrient digestibility of lambs

Provision of nutrients in balanced form and required amounts is essential to meet the productive targets in livestock. Among nutrients, protein plays a pivotal role in growth, production and reproduction of farm animals. However, nature and level of dietary protein determine the supply of both physiologically and dietary essential amino acids in animals. In ruminants, protein requirements are twofold; to support the anaerobic ecosystem in the rumen and to meet the animal needs. However, because of ruminal anaerobic fermentation, a portion of dietary protein is degraded in the rumen (RDP) and the rest escape from ruminal degradation (RUP). The RDP is used to support the growth of anaerobic bacteria and thus profile of microbial protein along with the nature of RUP determines the availability of dietary and physiologically essential amino acids in ruminants. Generally, the requirements of high producing animals for dietary essential amino acids are increased from those supplied by the microbial and escaped protein pool. Thus the dietary supplementation of rumen protected protein and amino acids are recommended to support the physiological and productive needs of livestock for amino acids. The objective of this article is to review all important studies on RPP, RPL and RPM and their effects on dry matter intake (DMI), digestibility and production performance of cows and sheep. Protein is an important limiting nutrient in ruminants. It contains two fractions: RDP and RUP/RPP. The rumen microbes breakdown RDP to small peptide, AA and ammonia. These, in turn, can be used for synthesis of microbial protein. The rate of microbial protein synthesis is limited by the rate of passage of feed from the rumen. Therefore, supplementation of RDP, RUP or AA is considered important to satisfy animal’s requirements. This is especially true for animals fed on poor quality forages. Supplementation of quality protein or rumen protected amino acids (RPAA) particularly Met and Lys results in increased DMI and digestibility in cattle and sheep. It also increases growth performance, reproductive efficiency and milk yield. It may have some negative effects if Met is supplied at levels substantially in excess of calculated intestinally absorbable requirements, either alone or together with Lys. Supplementation of Met may be useful in rations with low protein content fed to early lactating cows in order to prevent negative long term effects. In conclusion, supplementation of ruminally protected proteins and amino acids improved feed consumption, digestion and performance of ruminant animals fed low quality forages.

Supplementation of ruminally protected proteins and amino acids: feed consumption, digestion and performance of cattle and sheep.

http://directory.umm.ac.id/Data%20Elmu/jurnal/S/Small%20Ruminant%20Research/Vol39.Issue1.Jan2001/1985.pdf

Optimum dietary crude protein level for finishing Awassi lambs.

Partial replacement of barley grain for corn grain: Associative effects on lambs’ growth performance

The animal production sector in Jordan is characterized by shortages of locally produced feedstuffs derived from rangeland, forage plants or from human food crops as by products. This is exacerbated by insufficient rainfall, overgrazing, early grazing and high stocking rate. Thus, subject to these constraints, other technological improvements are highly desirable to meet the needs of crop growth and animal production. Alternative adapted technologies are also desirable in order to meet the increased demand for red meat in relation to population growth along with the changes in the price subsidy for feedstuff. The technologies are those, which have been introduced to the animal production sector, obtained in agricultural research stations besides on-farm demonstrations. They include technologies suited for increasing birth and twining rates, synchronizing the mating period, introducing the early weaning method, and animal feed and sheep production. Economic assessments conducted in this study demonstrate promising results of hormonal and nutritional practices in improving production efficiency of Awassi sheep in Jordan. Jordanian published data between 1991 and 1998 were used. The examined practices were: 1) use of PMSG in estrus synchronization in ewes, 2) introduction of early lamb weaning program, 3) supplementation with AD 3 E for ewes and 4) the use of agro-industrial feed block as a feed supplement for grazing lambs. Production data were then subjected to partial budgeting for economical evaluation. The use of PMSG outperformed the control groups in fertility and net returns per ewe by US$ 8.36/ewe. The early weaning of lambs increased the net returns by US$ 3.90/lamb. The injection with vitamin AD 3 E showed an average additional net return of US$ 5.66/ewe. Feeding agriculture by-product blocks improved weight gain in the feed block groups and resulted in additional net returns of US$ 3.5/lamb. The economic viability and reproductive performance indicators demonstrate that efforts should be undertaken to disseminate these new practices in the development program.

Economic Assessments of Hormonal and Nutritional Treatments for Improvement of Awassi Sheep Production in Jordan

This study was conducted to measure technical efficiency of a sample of medicinal and herbal plants farms and to explore determinants of their technical efficiency in Jordan. Managers from 50 farms were interviewed. Farm level data were obtained in 2006-2007 production period. Data Envelopment Analysis and Banker, Charnes and Cooper-Input Oriented Model (BCC-I) were used to estimate technical efficiency. Results indicated that 36 farms were efficient with technical efficiency value equal to 1, whereas 14 farms were inefficient. Technical efficiency was in the range of 0.25-1 (avg. = 0.88). Technical efficiency was negatively related to age, education, and experience of framers and number of crops grown in the farm, but positively related to agricultural area and farm size. Although older farmers may have more “learning by doing” experience, farmers of less than 50 years of age were more efficient than older ones. Farmers were relatively efficient although they may not be highly educated. Technical efficiency was higher in highlands than in the rift valley. Large farms had higher technical efficiency than smaller ones. Specialization in one or two medicinal and herbal plants crops enhanced technical efficiency

https://journals.ju.edu.jo/JJAS/article/download/2589/2347

Technical Efficiency of Medicinal and Herbal Plant Farms in Jordan

NASR, Raoul E., 2006. Water conservation and desert large-scale farming in Jordan. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 12: 553-558 Water shortage is a serious problem in Jordan. Irrigation water consumes about 65% of the available fresh water resources. This article aims at studying partial water productivity in desert large-scale farming in Jordan and comparing it to farming practices in the rest of the country. Water is widely exported in form of crops that consumes large amounts of water without full economic consideration to the opportunity cost of water. In some cases, food imports may be a feasible option in water-poor countries instead of water import.

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R.E. Nasr

Papers

Optimum dietary crude protein level for finishing Awassi lambs.

Partial replacement of barley grain for corn grain: Associative effects on lambs’ growth performance

Economic Assessments of Hormonal and Nutritional Treatments for Improvement of Awassi Sheep Production in Jordan

Technical Efficiency of Medicinal and Herbal Plant Farms in Jordan

Water Conservation and Desert Large-scale Farming in Jordan