A.N. Al-Omar ⁽¹⁾, A. Baradani ⁽²⁾, M. Baghdadi ⁽³⁾, and R. Al-Wada ⁽²⁾

(1). Research Director – General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), Hama Research Center.

(2). Research Assistant – GCSAR – Hama Research Center.

(3). Researcher – GCSAR – Livestock Research Department.

(*Corresponding author:  A. N. Al-Omar, email: abdnaser64@gmail.com).

Received:   12/02/2024                Accepted:  15/05/2024

Abstract: 

The research was carried out at the Sheep Research Station of the Scientific Agricultural Research Center in Hama during the year 2023 on twenty-four heads of growing male Awassi sheep with an average starting weight of 40.15 kg and an average age of (218) days, aiming to use coriander hay instead of wheat hay in Fattening male Awassi. The experimental animals were divided into four groups according to the type and percentage of filler feed. The first group was fed, in addition to the concentrated diet, a diet filled with 100% wheat straw alone. The second group was fed 75% wheat straw + 25% coriander straw. The third group was fed 50% wheat straw and 50% coriander straw. The fourth group was fed 25% wheat straw + 75% coriander straw. Coriander, and the experiment lasted for (104) days. The results showed that the daily growth rates of the fattening lamb groups (first – control, second, third and fourth) amounted to (209.94, 174.68, 189.1 and 173.08) g/day, respectively. The statistical analysis showed that the averages of the first and third groups were superior to the averages of the second and fourth groups, and it was noted that there were no statistically significant differences between the averages of the first and third groups, at a significance level (0.05%). The average conversion factor for the lambs (first, second, third and fourth) was (7.8, 8.7, 9.4 and 9.5) kg feed/kg live weight, respectively. It was also shown that there was no significant difference between the averages of the first and second groups, and that they were superior to the averages of the third and fourth groups, at a significant level (0.05%). Estimating the average economic cost of producing 1 kg of live weight for the experimental lambs (first, second, third and fourth) amounted to (31069, 34146, 35374 and 37227) Syrian pounds, respectively, which indicates the possibility of using coriander hay as a filling fodder in fattening male Awassi, and the best of them was the second group. Which contains 25% coriander straw and 75% wheat straw (experimental groups), as it gave a conversion factor equivalent to wheat straw and without any health problems or negative effects on fattening indicators when used in the proportions studied, which provides an important economic return for breeders.

Keywords: Coriander Hay, Wheat Hay, Male Awassi sheep.

 Full paper in Arabic: PDF