Effects of different roughage formulations, supplemented with concentrate, on fattening donkeys raised for meat

The purpose of this experiment was to study the effects of different roughage, supplemented with concentrate, on fattening donkeys raised for meat and to determine the effects of alfalfa hay, corn straw, wheat straw, and reed–supplemented with concentrate–on the dry matter intake (DMI), apparent nutrient digestibility, growth performance, and production benefit of the same. Therefore, 25 donkeys raised for meat (aged 2 ~ 3 years and weighing 145 ~ 150 kg) set to be fattened were randomly divided into the following 5 groups (5 replicates in each): control (alfalfa hay), group A (alfalfa hay + mixed concentrate), group B (corn straw + mixed concentrate), group C (wheat straw + mixed concentrate), and group D (reed + mixed concentrate). The results showed the following. 1) The DMI of the animals in group A was significantly higher than those of groups B, C, and D (P < 0.05), and there was no significant difference between group A and the control group (P > 0.05). The average daily gain in group A was significantly higher than those in groups B, C, and D (P < 0.01) and the control group (P < 0.05). The feed to weight ratio in group D was significantly higher than those in the other groups (P < 0.01) while that in group C was significantly higher than those in groups A and B and the control (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between groups A and B and the control (P > 0.05). 2) The dry matter digestibility in group C was significantly lower than those in the other groups (P < 0.05). The crude protein digestibility in group A was the highest and more significant than those in groups B and D (P < 0.05); however, there was no significant difference between groups A and C (P > 0.05). The digestibility of acid detergent fiber in group D was significantly higher than those in the other groups (P < 0.05), and there was no significant difference in the digestibility of neutral detergent fiber in each group (P > 0.05). 3) The control group yielded maximum profit while group D produced a loss. The income from the control group was significantly higher than those from groups A and B (P < 0.05) and group C (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference between groups A and B (P > 0.05). In summary, alfalfa hay can be used as the single dietary item fed to donkeys during the fattening stage, with no need to supplement it with concentrate. Corn straw can be used as a basal diet for fattening donkeys; however, proper supplementation with concentrate could improve digestibility and economic benefits. Wheat straw and reed are not suitable as basal diets for fattening donkeys.