Bitter vetch grains as a substitute for soybean meal for growing lambs

Abstract

Thirty-six male Awassi lambs, born within 8-day period, were reared on their mother's milk until they were weaned at 65 days of age. After weaning, lambs were divided into 3 groups of 12, according to their live weight, and housed in individual pens and offered three isonitrogenous experimental diets. The experimental diets consisted of a 15 to 85 forage to concentrate ratio differing in the proportions of soybean meal (SBM) and bitter vetch ( Vicia ervilia) grain. Soybean meal and bitter vetch grain were present in the experimental diets in the following proportions: 14:0% (S), 7:8.4% (SV) and 0:15% (V), all on dry matter basis. The experiment lasted for 80 days in which lambs had ad libitum access to feed. Organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) intakes were all unaffected ( P > 0.05) by the dietary treatment and averaged 875, 152 and 226 g/day, respectively. However, intake of rumen undegradable protein was decreased in the SV and V diets as compared to the S diet. Dry matter, OM, CP, NDF and energy digestibilities were all unaffected ( P > 0.05) by the dietary treatment. Average daily gain (ADG) of all lambs was not affected by the dietary treatment and averaged 196 g/day. Feed to gain ratio was also unaffected by the treatment and averaged 5.3. However, feed cost/kg body weight change was reduced by more than 9% with the substitution of SBM with bitter vetch grain. In conclusion, partial or complete substitution of SBM with bitter vetch grain did not affect nutrient intake or growth performance of Awassi lambs and resulted in a decrease in feed cost.