PRODUCTIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF RAHMANI MALE LAMBS FED RATIONS CONTAINING JATROPHA CAKE

SUMMARY
The objective of this study was to determine the effect of 70% Jatropha cake replaces by soybean on feedlot and reproductive performance of Rahmani male lambs. Following weaning the lambs were divided into two groups control and trial (n=8 in each). All groups were received concentrate and roughage as 60:40 ratios, respectively. The control lambs were fed concentrate feed mixture (CFM) plus berseem hay (BH). The trial lambs were nourished tested diet consisted of Jatropha cake instead of 70% soybean which contained CFM plus BH. Detoxification Jatropha cake by Lactic acid bacteria at rate of 1g/100 kg Jatropha cake. Measurements of live body weight, body weight gain and animal performances were calculated during five months as fattening period. The testicular characteristics were taken from 95 to 275 days and blood samples for testosterone hormone were started from 115 up to 275 days of age. Semen was collected by artificial vagina after lambs appeared 3rd stage of puberty. The experimental result explained that values of live body weight, testicular diameter, testicular circumference, testicular length and testicular volume of ram lambs in Jatropha diet were higher than those in control diet. Moreover, results showed no significant differences among experimental rations on average daily gain. However, the highest average daily gain of growing lambs was recorded with Jatropha followed by control. The average daily total DM (g/h/d) intake of control lambs was 1250, but 1300 consumed by Jatropha lambs. The average daily gain (g/h/d) was rather in Jatropha lambs 204.6 than control lambs 199.3. The feed utilization efficiency was 10.14 % for Jatropha supplemented diet. The totally experimental measurements of lambs were affected positively (P<0.05) with advanced age during pubertal development. The lambs in Jatropha reached puberty earlier (241.45 days) than in control male (272.24 days). The Jatropha lambs were produced semen quality in higher (P<0.05) than those in control lambs. Jatropha groups had better (P<0.05) testosterone hormone concentration values than CFM group. It could be concluded that bacterial Jatropha meal could be replaced up to 70% of soybean meal in CFM without any adverse impact on body performance, puberty development and semen production of lambs.