EFFECTS OF CONCENTRATED FEEDS ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE, BLOOD PROFILES AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF DEZHOU DONKEYS

The nutritional requirements of donkeys have not been studied well, therefore, donkeys are being fed according to the horse nutritional plans in China Keeping in mind the importance of the topic, the best concentrate feed was searched among three different levels i.e., 1, 1.25 and 1.5% based on growth performance, blood profiles and carcass characteristics. In this study, 30 male Dezhou donkeys (weight: 147.36 6.32 kg; age: 210 10 days) were randomly divided into 3 groups according to daily concentrate intake: 1.00% (Group 1.00), 1.25% (Group 1.25) and 1.50% (Group 1.50) of live weight. Roughage in the form of beanstalk was the only forage for all groups. On the basis of their growth performance, blood parameters, carcass characteristics and visceral indexes, we found that Group 1.50 and 1.25 showed higher average body gain, body sides and carcass percentage (P<0.05) than Group 1.00, the visceral indices and blood parameters showed no difference among 3 groups (P> 0. 05). Based on all the fundamental measurements, we could draw a conclusion that concentrates at 1.25% of live weight level is the most efficient quantity to feed Dezhou donkeys.