Abstract:

In order to investigate the growth performance and apparent digestibility of Hetian sheep in fattening period response to adding reed in diet. Seventy-five Hetian sheep with 6 months old and body weight(30.59 kg±3.36 kg) were classified into 5 groups by single-factor completely random design of experiment, fifteen sheep were assigned to 0, 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% reed addition group. Each group was fed difference diet during the experimental period (75 d). The results showed that the DM intake of 20% and 40% reed addition groups were extremely significant higher than control group (P< 0.01), respectively. The daily gain of 20% reed addition group was significantly higher than control group (P< 0.05), the daily gain of 10%, 30% and 40% reed addition groups were higher than control group 10.09%, 5.64% and 10.87% (P> 0.05), respectively. The apparent digestibility of DM, CP, EE, NDF, ADF, crude ash, calcium and phosphorus in 20% reed addition group was relatively high. Each feed unit cost and total cost would be increase when the reed content of diet increase, the reed addition groups had a better weight gains economic efficiency than control group, and the 10% reed addition group was the best. The results suggested that the DM intake, daily gain and apparent digestibility of DM, CP and EE were better when the diet adding 20% reed. Considering that feed total cost, there were a better economic benefit when the diet adding 10% reed.

Key words: reed; Hetian sheep; growth performance; apparent digestibility; economic benefits