The Inclusion of Black Cumin Meal Improves Growth Performance of Growing Awassi Lambs.

Belal Obeidat

doi:10.3390/vetsci7020040

Abstract

Twenty-four Awassi lambs were randomly divided into two dietary treatments to assess the influence of black cumin meal (BCM; Nigella sativa L.) feeding on growth performance. Diets were no BCM (CON) or 150 g BCM/kg DM (BCM150)). Lambs were fed the experimental diets for 80 days. Lambs were housed randomly in individual pens that were fitted with water and feed containers. During the study, nutrient intake was measured daily. Body weight (BW) and average daily gain (ADG) were evaluated biweekly. Nutrient digestibility and nitrogen (N) balance were evaluated on days 49–59. Intakes of dry matter, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), ether extract (EE) and metabolizable energy were greater (p ≤ 0.05) in the BCM150 diet than in the CON diet. The digestibility of DM, CP and EE (p ≤ 0.04) was improved in the BCM150 diet compared to the CON diet. However, NDF and ADF digestibility did not differ between the two diets. Nitrogen retained (g/d; p = 0.01) and N retention (%; p = 0.05) was greater in the BCM150 compared with CON diet. Final BW, ADG, and feed efficiency (DM intake: kg of gain) was greater (p ≤ 0.002) in BCM150 lambs than the CON lambs. However, cost/kg of BW gain was lower in the BCM150 diet than in the CON diet. In conclusion, the inclusion of black cumin meal improved the growth performance and profits in diets of growing lambs. Therefore, it could be used as an alternative to soybean meal and barley as a protein and energy supplement, respectively.

Highlights

In Jordan, the sheep population is about 3.1 million [1], from which the Awassi is the predominate breed
Black cumin meal was purchased from a local oil company (Green Fields Oil Factory, Amman, Jordan) and transported to Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST) campus and ground before it was mixed in the diet
No health disorders or issues were observed among the animals during the experiment, indicating that feeding BCM at 150 g/kg DM is safe to be fed for growing lambs

Summary

Introduction

In Jordan, the sheep population is about 3.1 million [1], from which the Awassi is the predominate breed. The potential impact of the reduction in forage availability is devastating and, eventually, livestock farmers depend on concentrates and grains as major sources of nutrients, which in turn decreases the profitability of raising sheep [2]. In this context, livestock producers have started to use alternative feeds and by-products in the diets of the ruminants [3,4], as a means to reduce the feed cost. The use of alternative feeds in the livestock diets is increased due to the high cost of the conventional feeds; as a result, the use of alternative feeds will solve the problem of feeding sheep in Jordan [2]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion