The chemical composition and digestibility of dried malt sprouts and its utilization in the ration of fattening lambs

Two experiments were conducted to determine the chemical composition and apparent digestibility of dried malt sprouts and its substitution in the ration of fattening lambs. In first experiment, chemical composition (in AOAC method) and in vivo digestibility coefficient was determined using four mature male Atabay lambs. In second experiment, thirty male lambs with initial weight of 33.01±2.74 kg, were used in a completely randomized designed for a three- month experiment. Concentrate (barley and beet pulp) was replaced by malt sprout at levels of 0, 15 and 30 percents. Weight gain, dry matter intake and feed conversion ratio were measured in three treatments. The results showed that dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, organic matter, crude fiber and NFE of malt sprout were 83.7, 14.8, 2.5, 75.5, 19 and 61.3 percent respectively. Digestibility coefficient of dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, organic matter, crude fiber and NFE were 67.90, 69.50, 37.2, 71.1, 57.2 and 87.3 percent respectively. The highest daily weight gain (223g/day) was achieved by lambs fed 0% malt sprout and the lowest daily weight gain (200g/day) was achieved by lambs fed 30% malt sprout but no significant differences were found among treatments. Dry matter intake (approximately 1.46 kg/day) was similar in three rations. Feed conversion ratio was better in control group (6.56) than groups with 15 and 30 percent malt sprout. The results showed that malt sprout can be used until 30% of total ration in fattening Zel lambs.