Etude de l’impact de l’adjonction du monensin dans l’alimentation sur les performances de production des agneaux et des chevreaux élevés en ateliers d’engraissement

Abstract

The objective of this trial was to study the effect of monensin on lambs and kids fattening performances. It was conducted in Sidi Bettach, using 72 lambs and 24 kids, weighing 17 and 21 kg respectively. Experimental concentrate feed included monensin at 15 ppm. At the end of the field trial which lasted 72 days, 26 lambs were slaughtered in Casablanca for carcass characteristics assessment. Incorporation of monensin in the feed did not improve lambs and kids production performances, namely feed intake, average daily gain (ADG) and feed efficiency. Nevertheless, a significant improvement was observed for lambs, during the second period of the experiment for the dietary intake (+2 %) and during the first one for the ADG (+33 g). Furthermore, monensin did not have any effect on carcass characteristics since we even obtained a higher dressing percentage in control group compared to the treated one. In light of the obtained results, it appears overall that under our experimental conditions, monensin incorporation in fattening small ruminants feed did not have any significant effect on their performances.