Effect of Feeding Sorghum Hay, Maize Stover and Areca Sheath Based Total Mixed Ration Feed Block (TMRfb) on Nutrient Intake, Digestibility and Cost Economics in Growing Lambs
2025
B.L. Pavan | V. Nagabhushana | , G.U. Manju | K.S. Giridhar | N. Suma | B.U. Umesh
A comparative study on sorghum hay, maize stover and areca sheath based total mixed ration feed block on voluntary feed intake, digestibility, growth performance and rumen fermentation parameters was conducted in growing lambs. Eighteen non-descript lambs aged 4-6 months with average body weight of 17±0.9kg were randomly allotted to three experimental diets with roughage to concentrate ratio of 60:40. The T1- diet comprised of sorghum hay based TMRfb, T2-diet comprised of maize stover based TMRfb and T3- diet comprised of areca sheath based TMRfb. The average DMI (g/d) of TMRfb varied significantly (P<0.01) from 480.81 (T2) to 738.19 (T1). The ADG (g/d) was significantly (P<0.01) higher in T1 (85.2), compared to T3 (64.3) fallowed by T2 (35.9). The digestibility of DM, OM, and CF was higher in T3 compare to T1 and T2. Digestibility of CP was (P<0.01) higher in T1 and T3 compared to T2. The intake of DCP (g/d), TDN (g/d) and ME (MJ/d) intake were significantly (P<0.01) higher in T1 (69.77, 531.87 and 9.03) as compared to T2 (30.82, 367.07 and 5.39) and T3 (32.85, 362.36 and 5.33). Rumen profiles before and after the experiment such as ammonia nitrogen did not show any significant difference among the treatments and also, however, the rumen pH and TVFA showed significant (P<0.05) difference between the treatments It was observed that, although the chemical composition of maize stover and areca sheath were almost comparable with sorghum hay but areca sheath was having higher energy yielding potential through rumen fermentation and better digestibility. It was concluded from this study that areca sheath could replace crop residues especially in the form of TMRfb for feeding small ruminants.
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