Effects of maize, ryegrass and sorghum silages on performance, meat quality and some blood variables of lambs
Abstract
Aim of study: This study evaluated the effects of ad libitum feeding of maize, sorghum and ryegrass silages on growth performance, blood gas and biochemical variables, and carcass characteristics of Ile de France male lambs. Area of study: The experiment was conducted in Sakarya province, Türkiye. Material and methods: Twenty-four lambs (2-3 months old; 26.53±0.21 kg) were individually housed and randomly assigned to four dietary groups. The control group received straw ad libitum, while the other groups were fed maize (Zea mays L.), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) or Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) silage ad libitum for 70 days, together with a standard concentrate-based basal ration. Average daily gain was calculated for each lamb as the slope of the linear regression of live weight on time over the entire experimental period. Blood gas and biochemical variables were measured on days 35 and 70 using an EDAN i15 VET analyser. Growth performance, carcass characteristics, and blood variables were analysed using appropriate statistical models, including repeated measures analysis for blood data. Main results: Dietary group did not affect growth performance, average daily gain, carcass characteristics, blood gas variables or biochemical profiles (P > 0.05). Several blood variables showed significant changes over time (P < 0.05), but these changes were consistent across all dietary groups and were not diet-dependent. Meat colour, texture properties and water activity of the musculus longissimus dorsi were similar among experimental groups. Research highlights: Feeding maize, sorghum and ryegrass silages ad libitum maintained normal metabolic status and resulted in comparable growth performance and carcass traits in lambs. Under the conditions of this study, all three silage types can be considered nutritionally safe forage alternatives for intensive lamb-fattening systems.
Downloads
References
Akyıldız AR, 1984. Yemler bilgisi laboratuvar kılavuzu. Ankara Üniv Ziraat Fak Yay No. 895, Ankara, Türkiye.
Almeida Júnior GAD, Costa C, Monteiro ALG, Garcia CA, Munari DP, Neres MA, 2004. Live weight gain, carcass traits and economic results on lambs fed with high moisture corn silage in creep feeding. R Bras Zootec 33: 1048–1059. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1516-35982004000400025
AOAC, 1990. Official methods of analysis. 15th ed. Assoc Off Anal Chem, Washington, DC, USA.
Aydin KB, Bi Y, Brito LF, Ulutaş Z, Morota G, 2024. Review of sheep breeding and genetic research in Türkiye. Front Genet 15: 1308113. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2024.1308113
Aygün T, Çelikyürek H, 2020. Recommended sheep husbandry model and body weights of Morkaraman lambs in Muş province. Lalahan Hay Araşt Enst Derg 60(1): 5-8. https://doi.org/10.46897/lahaed.661067
Beukes J, 2013. Maize silage-based diets for feedlot finishing of Merino lambs. Master’s thesis. Stellenbosch Univ, South Africa. 105 pp.
Bonferroni CE, 1936. Teoria statistica delle classi e calcolo delle probabilità. Pubbl R Ist Sup Sci Econ Comm Firenze 8: 3-62.
Bosman MJC, Webb EC, Cilliers HJ, Steyn HS, 2000. Growth, carcass and sensory characteristics of M. longissimus lumborum from wethers fed silage diets made from maize or various sorghum varieties. S Afr J Anim Sci 30(1): 36-42.
Carvalho AFD, de Araújo MJ, Vallecillo SJA, Neto JPC, de Souza AR, Edvan RL, Bezerra LR, 2022. Tissue composition and meat quality of lambs fed diets containing whole-plant sesame silage as a replacement for whole-plant corn silage. Small Rumin Res 216: 106799. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2022.106799
Çolak E, Sancak C, 2016. The effects of different nitrogen fertilizer doses on yield and some agricultural traits of Italian ryegrass (Lolium italicum L.) cultivars. Tarla Bitk Merkez Arast Enst Derg 25: 58–66. https://doi.org/10.21566/tbmaed.55211
De Sousa VS, Louvandini H, Scropfner ES, McManus C, Abdalla AL, Garcia JAS, 2008. Performance, carcass traits and body components in hair sheep fed with sunflower silage or corn silage. Ciênc Anim Bras 9(2): 284-291. https://revistas.ufg.br/vet/article/view/4223
Demiral K, İşcan KM, 2012. Effect of flushing application on fertility parameters in Akkaraman sheep. Erciyes Üniv Vet Fak Derg 9(1): 23–28. https://izlik.org/JA32NB87FE
Duncan DB, 1955. Multiple range and multiple F tests. Biometrics 11(1): 1-42.
Estrada-León RJ, Moo-Huchin VM, Mena-Arceo D, Cárdenas-Medina JV, Ortíz-Fernández A, Canto-Pinto JC, 2022. Meat quality physicochemical traits in hair sheep in southeast Mexico. J MVZ Córdoba 27: e2563. https://doi.org/10.21897/rmvz.2563
FAO, 2023. FAOSTAT: Crops and livestock products. FAO, Rome, Italy. https://www.fao.org/faostat/ [accessed 15 Jan 2025].
Fluharty FL, Zerby HN, Lowe GD, Clevenger DD, Relling AE, 2017. Effects of feeding corn silage, pelleted, ensiled, or pelleted and ensiled alfalfa on growth and carcass characteristics of lambs. S Afr J Anim Sci 47(5): 704–711. https://doi.org/10.4314/sajas.v47i5.14
Geletu US, Usmael MA, Mummed YY, Ibrahim AM, 2021. Quality of cattle meat and its compositional constituents. Vet Med Int: 7340495. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/7340495
Gois GC, Santos EM, Sousa WH, Ramos JPF, Azevedo PS, Oliveira JS, Perazzo AF, 2017. Meat quality of finishing feedlot lambs fed diets of assorted sorghum cultivars. Arq Bras Med Vet Zootec 69: 1653–1659. https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-4162-9231
ISO, 1997. Native starch — Determination of starch content — Ewers polarimetric method.ISO 10520. Geneva, Switzerland.
Kara H, Eroğlu A, 2018. Capacity planning of intensive stock farming in Konya (Ereğli) by integer linear programming. Çukurova Tarım Gıda Bil Derg 33(2): 31–46. https://izlik.org/JA34ZD98RE
Keleş G, Kocaman V, Üstündağ AO, Zungur A, Özdoğan M, 2018. Growth rate, carcass characteristics and meat quality of growing lambs fed buckwheat or maize silage. Asian-Australas J Anim Sci 31(4): 522–528. https://doi.org/10.5713/ajas.17.0296
Kemešytė V, Statkevičiūtė G, Norkevičienė E, Jaškūnė K, 2023. Italian ryegrass as a forage crop for the Baltics: opportunities and challenges in light of climate change. Plants 12(22): 3841. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12223841
Khan SH, Shahzad MA, Nisa M, Sarwar M, 2011. Nutrient intake, digestibility, nitrogen balance and growth performance of sheep fed different silages with or without concentrate. Trop Anim Health Prod 43: 795-801. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-010-9765-1
Krištolaitytė J, Džermeikaitė K, Rutkauskas A, Šertvytytė G, Lembovičiūtė G, Arlauskaitė S, Antanaitis R, 2025. Impact of blood metabolic profile and ingestive behaviours registered with noseband sensor on methane emission during transition period in dairy cows. Life 15(5): 760. https://doi.org/10.3390/life15050760
Lefter NA, Vasilachi A, Voicu D, Hăbeanu M, Gheorghe A, Grosu AI, 2019. Effect of sorghum grain inclusion in Montbeliarde dairy cows diet on health status. Slovak J Anim Sci 52(2): 63-68.
Lind V, Berg J, Eik LO, Eilertsen SM, Molmann J, Hersleth M, Haugland E, 2009. Effects of concentrate or ryegrass-based diets (Lolium multiflorum) on the meat quality of lambs grazing on semi-natural pastures. Acta Agric Scand A Anim Sci 59(4): 230-238. https://doi.org/10.1080/09064700903493699
Madruga MS, Costa RG, Silva AM, Marques AVMS, Cavalcanti RN, Narain N, Lira Filho GEE, 2008. Effect of silk flower hay (Calotropis procera Sw.) feeding on the physical and chemical quality of Longissimus dorsi muscle of Santa Inês lambs. Meat Sci 78(4): 469-474. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2007.07.016
Malisetty V, Reddy YR, Devanaboina N, Mallam M, Krishna CH, Reddy AR, Prakash MG, 2013. Effect of feeding maize silage supplemented with concentrate and legume hay on growth in Nellore ram lambs. Vet World 6(4): 209-213. https://doi.org/10.5455/vetworld.2013.209-213
Manarelli DM, Orrico Junior MAP, Retore M, Vargas Junior FMD, Silva MSJ, Orrico ACA, Neves FDO, 2019. Performance and carcass traits of lambs fed saccharine sorghum silage. Pesqui Agropecu Bras 54: e00577. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1678-3921.pab2019.v54.00577
McDonald P, 1991. The biochemistry of silage. Chalcombe Publications, Marlow, UK.
Mertens DR, Allen M, Carmany J, Clegg J, Davidowicz A, Drouches M, Frank K, Gambin D, Garkie M, Gildemeister B, et al., 2002. Gravimetric determination of amylase-treated neutral detergent fiber in feeds with refluxing in beakers or crucibles: collaborative study. J AOAC Int 85(6): 1217-1240. https://doi.org/10.1093/jaoac/85.6.1217
Očenáš P, Baloga M, Valko-Rokytovská M, Ivašková S, 2025. Determination of biochemical and metabolomic characteristics of sheep blood serum and their application in clinical practice. Life 15(7): 1141. https://doi.org/10.3390/life15071141
Pino F, Heinrichs AJ, 2017. Sorghum forage in precision-fed dairy heifer diets. J Dairy Sci 100(1): 224-235. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2016-11551
Przemysław S, Cezary P, Stanisław M, Krzysztof L, Barbara P, Zofia A, Ząbek K, 2015. The effect of nutritional and fermentational characteristics of grass and legume silages on feed intake, growth performance and blood indices of lambs. Small Rumin Res 123(1): 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2014.11.008
Rodrigues TCDC, Freitas PM, Santos EM, de Araújo GG, Pires AJ, Ayres MC, de Carvalho GGG, 2019. Effects of ammoniated pearl millet silage on intake, feeding behavior, and blood metabolites in feedlot lambs. Trop Anim Health Prod 51: 2323-2331. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-019-01914-1
Sabertanha E, Rouzbehan Y, Fazaeli H, Rezaei J, 2021. Nutritive value of sorghum silage for sheep. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr 105(6): 1034-1045. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpn.13548
Santos ACP, Santos EM, de Carvalho GGP, Pinto LFB, Pina DS, Perazzo AF, de Lima Cruz GFF, 2021. Productive and metabolic parameters, carcass and meat characteristics of lambs fed sorghum silage treated with urea and Lactobacillus buchneri. Livest Sci 251: 104603. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2021.104603
Semerci A, Çelik AD, 2016. General overview of ovine breeding in Turkey. MKU Ziraat Fak Derg 21(2): 182-196. https://izlik.org/JA42WR35NH
Shapiro SS, Wilk MB, 1965. An analysis of variance test for normality. Biometrika 52(3–4): 591-611. https://doi.org/10.1093/biomet/52.3-4.591
Silva LA, Lima CL, Pina DDS, Alba HD, de Araújo ML, Cirne LG, de Carvalho GGG, 2024. Carcass traits and meat quality of lambs fed with rehydrated ground corn silage. Small Rumin Res 231: 107193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2023.107193
Sun HX, Gao TS, Zhong RZ, Fang Y, Di GL, Zhou DW, 2018. Effects of corn replacement by sorghum in diets on performance, nutrient utilization, blood parameters, antioxidant status, and meat colour stability in lambs. Can J Anim Sci 98(4): 723–731. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjas-2017-0136
Torkestani L, Sharifi MM, Tahmasbi R, Maddahian A, Dayani O, 2023. Effect of corn and millet silage and their particle size on feed intake, digestibility, rumen parameters, and feed intake behavior in Kermani sheep. J Livest Sci Technol 11(2): 13–23. https://doi.org/10.22103/jlst.2023.21564.1472
Van de Vyver WFJ, Beukes JA, Meeske R, 2013. Maize silage as a finisher feed for Merino lambs. S Afr J Anim Sci 43(5): 111–115. https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC141235
Van Soest PV, Robertson JB, Lewis BA, 1991. Methods for dietary fiber, neutral detergent fiber, and nonstarch polysaccharides in relation to animal nutrition. J Dairy Sci 74(10): 3583-3597. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(91)78551-2
Wang J, Cheng L, Chaudhry AS, Khanaki H, Abbasi IHR, Ma Y, Abbasi F, Guo X, Zhang S, 2022a. Silage mixtures of alfalfa with sweet sorghum alter blood and rumen physiological status and rumen microbiota of Karakul lambs. Animals 12(19): 2591. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12192591
Wang M, Han H, Shang Y, Zhang L, Zhang Y, Su C, Lian H, Fu T, Gao T, 2022b. Effect of the replacement of maize silage and soyabean meal with mulberry silage in the diet of Hu lambs on growth performance, serum biochemical indices, slaughter performance, and meat quality. Animals 12(22): 3164. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12223164
Wang Y, Wang Q, Dai C, Li J, Huang P, Li Y, Yang H, 2020. Effects of dietary energy on growth performance, carcass characteristics, serum biochemical index, and meat quality of female Hu lambs. Anim Nutr 6(4): 499-506. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aninu.2020.05.008
Wu P, Fu X, Wang H, Hou M, Shang Z, 2021. Effect of silage diet (sweet sorghum vs. whole-crop corn) and breed on growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality of lambs. Animals 11(11): 3120. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11113120
Zhang J, Li F, Na R, Bai X, Ma Y, Yang Y, Wang X, 2023. The effect of replacing whole-plant corn silage with daylily on the growth performance, slaughtering performance, muscle amino acid composition, and blood composition of Tan sheep. Animals 13(22): 3493. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13223493
Copyright (c) 2026 Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
© CSIC. Manuscripts published in both the print and online versions of this journal are the property of the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, and quoting this source is a requirement for any partial or full reproduction.
All contents of this electronic edition, except where otherwise noted, are distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence. You may read the basic information and the legal text of the licence. The indication of the CC BY 4.0 licence must be expressly stated in this way when necessary.
Self-archiving in repositories, personal webpages or similar, of any version other than the final version of the work produced by the publisher, is not allowed.
