Date of Award:

5-1989

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences

Committee Chair(s)

Randall D. Wiedmeier

Committee

Randall D. Wiedmeier

Committee

Lyle McNeal

Committee

Donald Sisson

Committee

Donald Dobson

Abstract

The utilization of composed caged-layer waste (CCLW) in diets for pregnant ewes fed cereal straw was evaluated. Five sheep were assigned to five diets containing, 0, 5.72, 11.37, 23.80, and 32.69% CCLW in a 5x5 Latin square design. Water intake, feed intake and feces output were measured. Feed and feces were analyzed for dry matter, crude protein, acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), organic matter, hemicellulose and minerals. Thus, nutrient digestibility and nitrogen balance could be calculated. Forty dry, pregnant ewes in the last third of generation were assigned to four dietary treatments contained 0, 11.25, 22.08 and 31.26% CCLW in a complete randomized design. The response measured were ewe weight change, lamb birth weight and wool growth. A ewe surgically fitted with a ruminal cannula was assisted to each treatment. These ewes were adapted to diets for a 7-day period and then ruminal samples were collected at 0, 3, 9 and 12 hours post-feeding. Cannulated ewes were rotated through each treatment pen in a 4x4 Latin square design. Collected samples were analyzed for ph, volatile fatty acids, ammonia and total protozoa. Dry matter and organic matter apparent digestibility decreased as the level of CCLW increased (P < 0.08). Other measurements (crude protein, NDF, ADF, hemicellulose, and total ash apparent digestibility and nitrogen balance) did not differ between treatments (P < 0.05). A biological trend indicated an improvement in structural carbohydrate digestibility as the level of CCLW increased. Ruminal propionic acid concentrations increased as the level of CCLW increase (P < 0.05). Ruminal ph and ammonia concentration tended to increase as the level of CCLW increased. These measurements indicated a better ruminal environment for fiber hydrolysis. Daily body weight gain, lamb birth weight and wool growth of ewes did not differ between treatments (P < 0.05). The results show that CCLW is a satisfactory source of supplemental nitrogen for gestating ewes.

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