Abstract
The rapid increase in human population leads to increased demand for animal protein. On the other hand, the deficit of protein feeds in the market and rising costs are the most significant obstacles facing animal production. Therefore, most researches have focused on improving the status and utilization of different protein sources in order to reduce costs and maintain optimum performance of animals. The results of our study showed that lambs of MIS population, of average body weight of 18.0 kg, fed diets with different protein sources: sunflower meal, soybean meal, fish meal, realized average daily gain: 0.169, 0.205 and 0.227 kg, respectively. Conversion of dry matter in analogue treatments was: 4.54, 3.71 and 3.30 (kg/kg of gain) and total protein (g/kg): 732, 596 and 549, respectively. It is evident that the fish meal as a protein source improves the growth and utilization of food in lambs. However, given that the European Commission has banned the use of fish meal in diets for animal nutrition, nutritionists? imperative is to investigate the possibility of using "unconventional" sources of protein (peas, beans, lupins) in diets for ruminant nutrition. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of different sources of protein in diets on production performance of ruminants.
Highlights
Dietary proteins that reach the small intestine of ruminants consist of two protein fractions: microbial and protein undegradable at the rumen level
The results of our study showed that lambs of MIS population, of average body weight of 18.0 kg, fed diets with different protein sources: sunflower meal, soybean meal, fish meal, realized average daily gain: 0.169, 0.205 and 0.227 kg, respectively
Microbial protein is produced by the action of the rumen flora, which breaks down the dietary protein to peptides, amino acids and ammonia, after which these materials are used for the synthesis of own proteins (Ružić-Muslić, 2006)
Summary
Dietary proteins that reach the small intestine of ruminants consist of two protein fractions: microbial and protein undegradable at the rumen level. In order to ensure optimal pool of amino acids for a particular production, it is necessary to provide protein fraction which avoids degradation of the protein in the rumen (undegradable protein) (Ružić-Muslić et al, 2007, 2011a). Zeremski (1989) states that the use of animal-based nutrients that have a low degradability of protein in the reticulum-rumen plays an important role in the utilization of the production potential and intensive fattening of lambs. Protein from these nutrients are considered highly valuable because they contain the essential amino acids necessary for the growth and development of lambs. As an excellent source of high quality protein that is slowly degraded in the rumen are the following: fish meal, meat and bone meal, blood meal and soy meal
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