GRADUAL SUBSTITUTION OF REED SILAGE WITH ALFALFA HAY FED WITH OR WITHOUT PROBIOTIC TO AWASSI LAMBS. 2- Carcass characteristics

The effect of three ratios of alfalfa hay to reed silage (40:0, 20: 20 and 0: 40 H: S ratios) fed with two levels of Iraqi local probiotic (IP) (0 and 7.5 g IP / kg DM) on live-weight gain and carcass characteristics were studied. Twenty four individual Awassi male lambs (mean weight 17 kg and 3-4 months of old) were used. The diets were formulated to be given as a 40 parts alfalfa hay or/and reed silage DM to 60 parts concentrate DM. There were no differences in daily feed Intake. Live weight gain, slaughter weight (SW), hot carcass weight (HCW), cold carcass weight CCW, empty body weight ( EBW) and killing -out proportions of lambs fed diets supplemented with IP were significantly higher than those fed diets without IP. Differences in live weight gain, SW, HCW, CCW, EBW and killing -out proportions, were not significantly affected by substitution reed silage with alfalfa hay. IP significantly increased lean percentage and reduce bone tissue in leg cuts, while no effect on fat tissue. Carcass cuts weight and fat tail weight were not significantly affected by increasing substitution of reed silage with alfalfa hay and IP supplementation, except the leg and shoulder cuts weight of lambs fed IP diets (31.07, 21.64)% which were significantly higher than those lambs fed diets without IP (29.36, 20.01)%.