Twenty-four Awassi lambs were randomly divided into two dietary treatments to assess the influence of black cumin meal (BCM; Nigella sativa L.) feeding on growth performance. Diets were no BCM (CON) or 150 g BCM/kg DM (BCM150)). Lambs were fed the experimental diets for 80 days. Lambs were housed randomly in individual pens that were fitted with water and feed containers. During the study, nutrient intake was measured daily. Body weight (BW) and average daily gain (ADG) were evaluated biweekly. Nutrient digestibility and nitrogen (N) balance were evaluated on days 49–59. Intakes of dry matter, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), ether extract (EE) and metabolizable energy were greater (p ≤ 0.05) in the BCM150 diet than in the CON diet. The digestibility of DM, CP and EE (p ≤ 0.04) was improved in the BCM150 diet compared to the CON diet. However, NDF and ADF digestibility did not differ between the two diets. Nitrogen retained (g/d; p = 0.01) and N retention (%; p = 0.05) was greater in the BCM150 compared with CON diet. Final BW, ADG, and feed efficiency (DM intake: kg of gain) was greater (p ≤ 0.002) in BCM150 lambs than the CON lambs. However, cost/kg of BW gain was lower in the BCM150 diet than in the CON diet. In conclusion, the inclusion of black cumin meal improved the growth performance and profits in diets of growing lambs. Therefore, it could be used as an alternative to soybean meal and barley as a protein and energy supplement, respectively.
Biochemical, hematological, immunological responses and growth performance of Barki lambs born to ewes fed on Nigella sativa meal
