Effects of incorporating oasis by-products on fattening performance and carcass characteristics of Ouled Djellal lamb

AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of incorporating three local oasis by-products [cull dates (CDs), date pedicels (DPs) treated with urea, and juice from rumen content] into the food ration of Ouled Djellal lambs on fattening performance and carcass characteristics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The experiment was carried out over 105 days, with an adaptation period of 15 days, on four groups each consisting of 10 male Ouled Djellal lambs aged 7-8 months with an average live body weight of 32±1.5 kg, randomly distributed, and raised in tie stalls. The basic rations were formulated at a rate of 0% (control), 50%, 80%, and 100% substitution of barley straw by DPs treated with urea. The additional rations intended for the experimental groups consisted of 100% substitution of corn by CDs. Before distributed, they were sprayed with rumen content extract (RCE) at a rate of 250 ml/kg. RESULTS: The 100% group displayed a highly significant difference compared to the other groups, with a live body weight of 43 kg (p<0.05), an average daily gain of 191 g, and feed efficiency of 5.08. These three parameters developed in proportion to the rates of incorporation of CDs and pedicels treated with urea. The carcass yield of the 100% group (48.7%) is significantly higher than the other groups while the thickness of back fat is significantly lower. Economically speaking, the profit margin of the 100% group is 30.93 Algerian dinars (DZD) per day per animal. CONCLUSION: The use of by-products of the date palm (CDs and pedicels) combined with RCE in animal feed with a view to fattening sheep, in particular in oasis zones, represents an alternative in enhancing growth performances and carcass characteristics and offers a relatively cheap prospect for the availability of red meat for populations with low purchasing power.