Page 64 - Effects of dried citrus pulp on nutrient intake, nitrogen balance and growth performance in Lohi lambs

However, Madrid et al. (1996) reported a linear increase in nutrient intake with an
increase in DCP level. Similarly, Bueno et al. (2002) observed the highest intake of DM in

growing kids when replacing corn with DCP at 40%. Highfill et al. (1987) reported a higher
feed intake in Angus cows fed TMR containing DCP than those fed TMR containing corn

gluten and soya hulls. Ben-Ghedalia et al. (1989) also reported a higher intake of cell wall

contents of the feed with supplementation of DCP in the diet. The reason for slightly
increased intake might be likeness of animals for DCP due to its specific smell and taste.

Another reason might be better palatability of the citrus pulp (Franzolin et al., 2010).

Digestibility

There was non-significant effect of various levels (10, 20, 30 and 40%) of DCP on

nutrient digestibility. Our findings are in accordance with Ahooei et al. (2011) who stated
that supplementation of DCP in the diet had non-significant effect on nutrient digestibility.

McCullough and Sisk (1972) also noticed non-significant difference on nutrient
digestibility between both levels (15 and 25%) of DCP in steers. Similar findings were

observed by Barrios-Urdaneta et al. (2003) who reported non-significant effects of DCP on

DM and OM digestibility. Macedo et al. (2007) found that there was a quadratic effect of
DCP on DM and CP digestibility. Our findings are also in agreement with Castrillo et al.

(2004) who examined the effects of substitution of barley with citrus pulp on diet
digestibility and reported a non-significant effect on DM digestibility. Fegeros et al. (1995)

observed that DM and CP digestibility remained unaffected at all levels of DCP in diet of
ewes.

Contrary to this study, Sudweeks (1977) stated that digestibility increased with

increasing the levels of DCP in the diets of sheep. Miron et al. (2002) noticed an increase
in digestibility in dairy cows, when levels of DCP were increased (9.6 to 20.7% of dietary

DM) in their diets. Highfill et al. (1987) observed that nutrient digestibility was higher in
cows fed TMR supplemented with DCP than those cows fed TMR having soya hulls and

corn gluten feed. Nam et al. (2009) also stated similar results in an in vitro study that

nutrient digestibility was higher in DCP treatment than control. Other researchers (Brown
and Johnson, 1991; Macedo et al., 2007; Scerra et al., 1994) also observed higher

digestibility when the levels of DCP increased in ruminant rations. This might be due to
total soluble solids and neutral detergent soluble carbohydrates in DCP that would be

rapidly digested in the rumen (Nam et al., 2009).

58