The effect of using diet supplementation based on argane (Argania spinosa) on fattening performance, carcass characteristics and fatty acid composition of lambs.

The current study was performed in order to evaluate the effect of using argane by-products (oil cake and pulp) as fattening diet of lambs. This was achieved through an experimental lamb fattening investigation using argan by-product as feeding source and the exploration of the fattened lamb performance, carcass characteristics and the chemical fatty acid composition of the quality produced meat. Twenty fattening Sardi lambs (26 ± 0.5 kg body weight and six months old) were divided into two (n = 10) homogenous experimental and control groups. Argane by-products (ABP) and traditional (CF) diets have been used for feeding the experimental and control groups respectively during a period of 75 days. The results obtained for both groups were used to determine the effect of feeding argane by-products on animal weight, average daily gain (ADG), carcass weight, muscle pH values, dressing %, dry matter, ash, ether extract, crude fiber, crude protein, and fatty acid composition. The obtained results showed that the experimental ABP group lambs had higher average daily gain and meat chemical, crude protein and ash and proportion of C18:0 than the control CF group lambs, while the control CF group had a higher feed conversion ratio, ether extract, mesenteric and perirenal fat. The results obtained for pH0 and pH24 were similar for both explored groups. The obtained results showed thus that the use of ABP as a diet to fattening lambs increased their performance and lean meat yield.

The effect of including argane by-products (meal and pulp) in dairy ewe diet on milk quality and production, and lamb growth performance.

The objective of this work was to study the effect of the incorporation of argane by-products (meal and pulp) in ewe's diet on the production and quality of milk and the performance of lambs in the lactation phase. Twenty ewes were divided into two equal groups. The first one has been fed with argane by-product diet (AD), and the second with a control diet (CD). The results showed an improvement in milk production with an average of 26.3% for AD compared with the CD group. AD group lambs showed a significant difference (p < 0.05) compared with the CD group during lactation phase. The ash and protein levels were not affected by treatments; however, fat, lactose, density, and fusion point content show more fluctuations for both treatments (p < 0.05). The physicochemical parameters of sheep milk showed high (p < 0.01) to very high (p < 0.001) significant change, along the lactation weeks. Except the Zn which showed no significant difference (p > 0.05), the mineral composition of both milks (Na, K, Ca, Mg, P, and Fe) was significant (p < 0.05). It is concluded that, in terms of performances, argane by-products could replace the conventional diet for ewes without substantial detrimental effects. Therefore, argane by-product could be used as a cost-effective feed for sheep in dry areas.