The study of chemical and nutritional characteristics of corn silage from seed exposed to gamma rays and its effect on the performance of finishing male Zandi lambs

This study was conducted to investigate the chemical composition and nutritional characteristics of corn seeds exposed to gamma ray and the effect of its silage feeding on performance of finishing male Zandi lambs. First, the germination characteristics of control and irradiated corn seeds with different dosages of gamma ray (25, 50, 100, 150 and 200 gray) were measured. After determining the appropriate dose, corn seeds were irradiated with gamma ray at 25 gray and cultivated in the field. At the end of the growth period, corn forage was harvested and ensiled in experimental and farm silages. In addition, the effects of feeding experimental silages on performance and blood metabolites of finishing Zandi lambs were determined. Experimental treatments were: 1) control; diet containing 20% non-irradiated corn silage and 2) diet containing 20% corn silage irradiated with 25 gray gamma ray. Irradiation with 25 dosage of gamma gray increased secondary roots, plumule and rootlet number in greenhouse condition as compared to other irradiation dosages (P<0.01). Irradiated corn had higher levels of soluble carbohydrates, soluble protein and chlorophyll content in the field condition compared to control group (P<0.01). Silage obtained from irradiated corn had higher crude protein content and lower pH compared to control (P<0.05). Feeding irradiated corn silage increased final body weight and average daily gain and improved feed conversion ratio of fattening lambs (P<0.05). Based on the results of the present study, irradiation of corn seeds with gamma ray improves corn silage quality and performance of fattening lambs.