Effects of feeding broiler litter on performance of Awassi lambs fed finishing diets

A 70-d experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding poultry broiler litter (BL) at levels 0 (BL0; n = 10), 100 (BL100; n = 10), and 200 g/kg (BL200; n = 10) on performance and carcass characteristics Awassi lambs. Nutrient intakes [i.e., dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (aNDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and copper] were similar (P>0.05) between all diets except for ether extract (EE) intake which tended to be lower (P≤0.10) for the BL20 diet than the BL0 diet whereas BL100 not different from the other two diets. Dry matter, OM, CP, aNDF, and ADF digestibility was lower (P<0.05) for the BL200 diet than BL00 and BL100 diets. A linear decrease in nutrient digestibility was observed among diets. Feeding BL diets did not affect (P>0.05) average daily gain (ADG) and dry matter intake (DMI):ADG. For dissected loin, intermuscular fat content was lower (P<0.05) for the BL200 diet than BL0 diet. Subcutaneous fat and total fat content were lower (P<0.05) for the BL200 than the BL0 and BL100 diets. Similarly, intermuscular, subcutaneous and total fat decreased linearly (P<0.05) among diets. Meat to fat ratio was greater (P<0.05) for the BL200 diet than the BL0 and BL100 diets. For the dissected leg, contents of subcutaneous fat and total fat were lower (P<0.05) for the BL200 diet than for BL0 and BL100 diets. Meat to fat ratio was greater (P<0.05) for the BL200 diet when compared to the BL0 and BL100 diets. Rib fat depth was lower (P<0.05) for the BL200 diet when compared to the BL0 and BL100 diets. The whiteness (L*) was greater (P<0.05) for the BL200 than the BL0 and BL100 diets. However, redness (a*) was lower (P<0.05) for the BL200 diet than the BL0. Whiteness and redness was affected linearly while no quadratic was detected among diets. Results of the current study showed that inclusion of the broiler litter at level 200 g/kg did not affect feed intake while it reduced the digestibility. However, inclusion of the broiler litter enhanced the meat quality.