EFFECT OF MICROBIAL INOCULATION OF WHOLE PLANT CORN SILAGE ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF RAHMANI LAMBS

ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of microbial inoculates of whole corn plants on silage quality, growth performance, blood constituents, carcass characteristics and economic efficiency of Rahmani lambs. Corn plants at doughy stage of maturity were inoculated with microbial inoculant (MID/1®) then chopped and ensiled. The results pointed that pH value of silage was 3.95 for un-inoculated and 3.80 for inoculated silage. Lactic acid concentration was 4.71 and 5.25% for un-inoculated and inoculated silage, respectively. Inoculated silage had higher concentration of total volatile fatty acids (3.00 %), acetic (1.15 %), propionic (0.85 %), butyric (0.35 %) and valeric acid (0.12 %) than un-inoculated (2.75, 0.99, 0.66, 0.25 and 0.09 %, respectively). Inoculated corn silage had a lower ammonia concentration (0.045 % on DM basis and 2.59 % ammonia of total nitrogen), than un-inoculated (0.053 and 3.87 %, respectively). It was noticed that corn silage with microbial inoculate increased crude protein, ether extract and ash, while decreased crude fiber, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber. Inoculate corn silage increased most minerals contents and gross energy value. Daily gain was significantly (P<0.01) increased (196.47 vs. 161.33 g/h/d). Feed intake of corn silage and feed conversion (6.56 vs. 7.80 kg feed/kg gain) were also increased (P<0.01).The results indicated that feed cost for producing one Kg gain was less for lambs fed inoculated corn silage compared with those fed un-inoculated, whereas economic efficiency improved by 19%. Inoculation significantly (P<0.05) increased hemoglobin, red blood cells count and phosphorus concentration. Dressing percentage2, hind quarters, edible offals, the 9th, 10th and 11th ribs weight were significantly (P<0.05) higher. Yet, feeding inoculated corn silage could improve growth performance, feed conversion, carcass characteristics and decreased feed cost of producing one Kg gain (19% less than un-inoculated silage).