Effectiveness of using fermented total mixed ration from dragon fruit branches on the performance of growing-finishing Lambs

• Nguyen Van Phu, Dinh Thi Quynh Lien, Phan Thi Tuong Vi, Doan Vinh, Pham Ngoc Thao, Le Hoang Bao Vi, Nguyen Thi Thuy and Dau Van Hai Tác giả

This study was carried out from 8^th March to 2^nd October 2024 at Ruminant Research and Development Center-Institute of Animal Sciences for Southern Vietnam to evaluate the effect of Dragon fruit branches (DFB) in fermented total mixed ration (FTMR) on growing-finishing lambs. A total of 240 five-month-old Phan Rang lambs were distributed into 03 treatments in a completely randomized design with 4 replicates (20 heads per replicate per treatment). Treatment 1: Control (0.4 kg commercial feed + 0.6 kg cassava residue and grass fed ad libitum); treatment 2: using 60% DFB in FTMR (FTMR1); treatment 3: using 70% DFB  in FTMR (FTMR2). The study revealed that incorporating FTMR from DFB had no adverse effects on the growth and development of lambs. Among the diets tested, FTMR1 proved to be more effective than FTMR2. The Phan Rang lambs fed this diet had the same average daily gain and feed conversion ratio as the control. More over, the feed cost per one kg weight gain was significantly reduced over 5% by using FTMR1 diets.