Effects of Cotton Gin Trash Level on the Performance of Desert Lambs in New Halfa Area, Kassala State, Sudan

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to evaluate cotton gin trash(CGT) as a feed for Shugor Desert lambs in New Halfa area in the Butana plain, Kassala State, Sudan. Cotton gin trash has high EE and CP and the proximate analysis (%) is 98.67, 18.25, 22.70, 38.35, 8.20 and 12.50 for DM, EE, CF, CP, ash and NFE, respectively. These residues cause environmental problem when it is not well exploited. Fifteen Shugor Desert lambs about 8-10 month old weighing 26.5 kg in average were divided to three groups and fed isocaloric and isonitrogenous rations with 0, 10% and 20% CGT for 6 weeks. Daily feed intake increased significantly (P≤0.05) with increasing CGT in rations (1.12, 1.30 and 1.37 kg at 0, 10 and 20% CGT, respectively).Final body weight increased with CGT in rations, but not significantly (P≥ 0.05) and were 34.66,34.76 and 36.90 kg , respectively. Weight gain increased with increasing CGT in rations, but not significantly(P≥ 0.05).They were 7.72, 7.78 and 9.98 kg at 0,10 and 20%CGT, respectively. Feed conversion ratio improved with increasing CGT in rations and were 7.80, 6.54 and 6.03 at 0,10 and 20%CGT, respectively. The results showed that CGT had good nutritive value and improved sheep feed intake, performance and feed conversion ratio and should be promoted.