GRADUAL SUBSTITUTION OF REED SILAGE WITH ALFALFA HAY FED WITH OR WITHOUT PROBIOTIC TO AWASSI LAMBS. 1- Daily feed intake, live weight gain and feed conversion ratio

The effect of three ratios of alfalfa hay to reed silage (40:0, 20: 20 and 0: 40 H: S ratios) fed with two levels of Iraqi local probiotic (0 and 7.5 g IP / kg DM) on daily feed intake, live-weight gain and feed conversion ratio were investigated in a 2x3 factorial experiment. Twenty four individual Awassi male lambs were used. They were weighing approximately 17kg live weight and 3-4 months of old at start of the experiment. The diets were formulated to be given as a 40 parts alfalfa hay or/and reed silage DM to 60 parts concentrate DM. There were no differences between treatments in daily DM, OM, NDF, ADF, Hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin intake when expressed as g/day or g/kg W-0.75. The daily intake of total N was followed the intended treatments composition. The live weight gain differences for overall period and feed conversion ratio were not significantly affected by substitution gradually percentages of reed silage with alfalfa hay; However, live weight gain (29.8g/day) and feed conversion ratio (6.0gDM intake/gLWG) were significantly improved for lambs fed diets supplemented with probiotic as compared with those fed diets without probiotic (27.7g/day, 7.0gDM intake/gLWG) respectively. It's recommended that substitution alfalfa hay with reed silage have no effect on live weight gain and feed conversion ratio. Diets supplemented with Iraqi probiotic were clearly improved live weight gain and feed conversion ratio of Awassi lambs.