Effects of feeding dried olive (Olea europaea) leaves with wheat strawconcentrate rations on feed conversion efficiency in Awassi rams

Three groups of Awassi rams were fed for 6 weeks either a conventional wheat straw-concentrate ration (Control) or 2 experimental rations, where 30 (G1) and 60% (G2) of the wheat straw was replaced with dried olive leaves following oil extraction. All rations were isocaloric and isonitrogenous. Feed intake (FI), bodyweight gain (BWG) and feed conversion efficiency (FCE) were measured. BWG and FI during the 6-week period were not significantly (P>0.05) different for the different rations, averaging 4.75 and 116 kg/animal, respectively. In addition, there were no significant (P>0.05) differences in FCE values between the Control and experimental groups fed wheat straw + olive leaves, averaging 24.6 kg feed/kg gain. These results suggest that dried olive leaves can replace wheat straw in wheat straw-concentrate rations at levels up to 60% without affecting performance. Further studies are needed to determine optimal combinations of straw, olive leaves and concentrate to achieve different goals as well as intakes and performance when offered rations ad lib. Economic assessments would determine if including olive leaves would reduce the costs of feeding.