Milk yield and quality and performance of Awassi ewes fed two levels of hydroponic barley
The technology of green fodder production is especially important in the arid and semiarid regions like
Palestine where forage production is limited (Abu Omar et al. 2012). The green fodder is produced
from grains, having a high germination rate and grown for a short period of time in a special chamber
that provides the appropriate growing conditions (Sneath and Mcintosh, 2003). The adoption of this
technique has enabled production of fresh forage from oats, barley, wheat and other grains
(Rodriguez-Muela et al. 2004).
Over recent years, severe shortages in food supplies for livestock have been experienced in Palestine
as well as many other countries in the region, mainly, due to repeated droughts as well as shortages of
water for irrigation (AL-Karaki, 2011). Many projects to produce forages have been established during
the last two decades to cover some green and dry forage needs in these countries (Saidi and Abo
Omar, 2015). However, scarcity of adequate fresh water supplies may pose challenges for
sustainability of the field projects especially with utilizing ground water for irrigation, which is
consumed in large amounts as these countries are characterized with very high rates of
evapotranspiration and soils of low capacity to retain water.
It is well documented that feed costs make more than 75% of total production costs of sheep projects
(Abu Omar et al. 2012).
The majority of sheep raised locally are of the Awassi breed (Abu Omar et al. 2012). It is a fat-tailed
breed. Under the extensive and semi intensive sheep production system that is adopted by farmers’ at
large scale, feeding sheep in the off season results in great expenses on concentrated and roughage
feeds.
The technology of green fodder production is especially important in Middle East where forage
production is limited (Saidi and Abo Omar, 2015). The green fodder is produced from grains, having
high germination rate and grown for a short period of time in a special chamber that provides the
appropriate growing conditions (Saidi and Abo Omar, 2015).
The germination process takes 8 to 10 d period to reach the hydroponic sprout using solar energy
(Kruglyakov, 1989).Plastic trays of suitable dimensions placed on metal stand are used in the
germination process (Morgan, 1992). At harvest, the plant is 20 to 25 cm in height, consisting of stem,
green leaves and roots (Saidi and Abo Omar, 2015). The animal consumes the whole plant including
Volume 39(6). Published March, 01, 2017
www.jnsciences.org
E-ISSN 2286-5314
Badran et al. (2017) / Journal of new sciences, Agriculture and Biotechnology, 39(6), 2136-2143 2137
seed and roots (Cuddeford 1989). Because of its aspect, color, taste and texture, it is considered a
highly palatable feed that promotes digestibility of other nutrients (Kruglyakov, 1989).
The adoption of this technique has enabled production of fresh forage from oats, barley, wheat and
other grains(Morgan, 1992). Limited research has been conducted on the feeding value of sprouted
grain especially to lactating ewes.
This study was undertaken to determine the effect of hydroponic barley (H) as a green fodder on the
performance and milk yield and quality of lactating Awassi ewes under Palestinian conditions.
E. BADRAN1
,J. ABO OMAR*2
, AL. QAISY1
, R. ABU AMSHA1
, M. AL JAMMAL1
, M. QADRI1
Cost per kg H
The calculated production cost per 1 kg H is 0.22 NIS. Compared to the traditional roughage regularly
fed to sheep there is a saving of about 0.76NIS/kg. The cost per ton of rations used in the feeding trial
was 1448, 773 and473 NIS for the control, H1 and H2 rations, respectively. This cost was calculated
based on the cost of the individual ingredients of the rations used in the experiment
The objective of this research was to investigate the effect of feeding different levels of
hydroponic barley (H) on general performance and milk yield and quality of lactating Awassi ewes. A
total of 48 lactating ewes were used in a feeding trial in three groups. The first was fed a regular
lactation total mixed ration (TMR) while ewes in the second and third treatments were fed similar
ration except that regular wheat hay was replaced by H at levels of 50 (H1) and 100% (H2), for 120
days feeding trial. Results of the experiment showed that H yield in 8 days germination cycle was 8.0
kg per 1 kg barley grains. Hat two levels had no effects on feed intake (FI), body weight changes, milk
yield, and milk composition; however, H had positive effects on ewe’s health conditions, mortalities,
conception rates and abortion. In conclusion, H can be used as supplemental roughage feed for
lactating sheep as cost of feed can be reduced on average by 57%
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