Abstract
Treating cardboard with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or supplementing it with caged hen manure (CHM) in sheep diets resulted in improved in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) and enhanced production of volatile fatty acids (VFA). The IVDMD of silages containing cardboard and CHM ranged from 37 to 68% and increased with increasing levels of CHM. The NaOH treatment of cardboard and supplementing silages prepared from treated cardboard with molasses also improved the IVDMD. Four complete diets with two levels of cardboard (13 and 26%), with or without added CHM, were compounded. The in vivo digestibility of dry matter (DM) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) was increased by incorporating cardboard in the diets of sheep. Supplementing diets containing cardboard with CHM further improved digestibility of DM and ADF. The cellulose and gross energy digestibility of the cardboard diets was significantly higher than that of diets containing rye grass straw. Five complete rations (similar to the in vivo digestibility study) were tested in a growth performance study of fat-tailed yearling Arabian sheep. The test diets were supplemented with either CHM or broiler litter. There was no significant difference in live-weight gains of lambs fed control, cardboard and cardboard plus poultry manure diets. Feed intake of animals receiving diets with cardboard plus poultry manure was significantly higher ( P < 0.01) than of those fed the control diet. Significantly lower ( P < 0.05) feed intake was recorded in animals receiving diets with straw or with a low level of cardboard than those fed diets with cardboard plus CHM or broiler litter. No health problems were observed in animals during the 2-month growth trial. The results of the studies indicate that ground corrugated cardboard and dried poultry manure (CHM or broiler litter) can partly substitute for the conventional roughage and concentrate, respectively, of sheep diets.
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