Resumen:
Twenty four Barki lambs with an average
body weight of 20.7 ± 0.17 kg were used in a
complete randomized design to evaluate the effects
of replacing clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L) hay as
a traditional basal diet (C) with moringa tree stalks
(MS) treated with fungi (Trichoderma reesei) (MF)
and yeast (Saccharomyces cervisiae) (MY) under
solid-state fermentation on nitrogen and water metabolism,
rumen fermentation and economic efficiency
of feeds. Lambs were divided into three groups each
with eight lambs depending on their live weigh Concentrate feed mixture was similar for all groups
and was offered at 2% of live weight with the basal
roughage offered ad libitum. The results show that the
rations had significant effects (P \0.05) on DM,
crude protein and nitrogen free extract digestibility.
Percentage total digestible nutrients was not affected
(P \0.05) by the experimental rations and the values
ranged between 0.62 and 0.64. The MY ration had the
highest (P \0.05) digestible crude protein followed
by C and MF. The roughage intake expressed as a
percentage of total feed intake for MF and MY groups
were higher by 4 and 2%, respectively compared to the
control group. Average daily gains were 173, 139 and
146 g/head/day, for C, MF and MY groups, respectively.
Average dressing percentages based on either
fasting weight or empty weight were not affected by
the experimental rations. There were no differences
(P \0.05) among groups in N and water balance.
Rumen NH
-N concentrations for the MF and MY
groups peaked (P \0.05) at 3 h post feeding whereas
for the control it peaked at 6 h post feeding. Rumen
TVFA’s concentrations for all treatments increased
gradually from zero to 6 h post-feeding. MY diet
recorded the highest (P \0.05) economical feed
efficiency compared with MF and control diet. These
results suggest that treatment of moringa stalks with S.
cerevisiae for 21 days in a solid-state fermentation
3
system improved its nutritive value and is more
suitable for practical feeding in sheep rations.