Abstract
Sixteen Afshari male lambs (mean live weight 35 ± 1.21 kg, 10 month of age) were used to study the effect of different levels of pistachio epicarp silage (0%, 8%, 17% and 25%) on wool characteristics. The fleece weight (FW), staple length on shoulder (STS), flank (STF), back (STB) and rump (STR), true wool fiber (TW), modulated fiber (MF), kemp fiber (KF) percentage, mean wool fiber diameter (MD) and its coefficient variation (CVMD), breaking load (BL), wool tenacity (WT) and extension (E) were measured. These data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA using SAS software package. The total mean of FW, STS, STB, STF STR; TW, MF, KF, MD, CVMD, BL, WT and E of wool were 1622.2 ± 0.2 gr, 6.20 ± 0.26 cm, 6.80 ± 0.20 cm, 6.50 ± 0.20 cm, 6.90 ± 0.20 cm, 63.30 ± 1.6 mu, 8.30 ± 1.6 mu, 28.40% ± 2.5%, 37.0 ± 0.9 mu, 47.02% ± 2.99%, 7.60 ± 0.3 kgf, 3.40 ± 0.2 gf/tex and 31.1% ± 1.7% respectively, although there was significant difference among treatments on FW, MF, KF, MD, BL and WT. The results showed that feeding lambs with 25% pistachio epicarp silage of total dry matter intake affected wool characteristics and its effect was similar with the control group.
Highlights
Pistachio by-product has potentially high nutritive value but its biological effects in ruminants have not been studied extensively
The results showed that feeding lambs with 25% pistachio epicarp silage of total dry matter intake affected wool characteristics and its effect was similar with the control group
High level of tannin in feed (50 - 100 g/kg Dry matter (DM)) reduce DM intake and digestibility of DM, Thereby the result is reduction of daily gain and wool production, but at lower level (20 40 g) has beneficial effects for animals [4,5]. This experiment was conducted to determinate of effect of feeding different levels of pistachio epicarp silage, that containing high levels of tannins, on quality and quantity characteristics of Afshari lambs wool
Summary
Pistachio by-product has potentially high nutritive value but its biological effects in ruminants have not been studied extensively. High level of tannin in feed (50 - 100 g/kg DM) reduce DM intake and digestibility of DM, Thereby the result is reduction of daily gain and wool production, but at lower level (20 40 g) has beneficial effects for animals [4,5]. This experiment was conducted to determinate of effect of feeding different levels of pistachio epicarp silage, that containing high levels of tannins, on quality and quantity characteristics of Afshari lambs wool
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
