Effect of feeding different proportion of roughages on nutrient digestibility, intake and serum biochemical parameters in dromedary camels

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of feeding different proportions of roughages on nutrient utilization, intake and blood biochemical parameters in dromedary camels. The experiment was carried out in 3x3 latin square design using three dromedary camels of similar body weight (498-531 kg) and age (8-10 years). The animals were fed total mix ration (TMR) containing roughages and concentrate mixture in the ratio of 70:30. In roughages, soybean straw (Glycine max L.) and gram straw (Cicer arietinum L.) were mixed in one of the three ratios 75:25, 50:50 and 25:75, which were designated as T₁, T₂ and T₃, respectively. There was significant (P<0.05) difference between the treatments for DM digestibility but T₁ and T₃ were at par. However, the difference for OM, CF, EE, NFE, NDF and ADF digestibility was non-significant among the treatment groups. The DE and ME (Mcal/kg) values were significantly (P<0.05) higher in T₂. The DMI (%BW) ranged between 1.98-2.12 and was highest in T₂ followed by T₃ and T₁. The DCPI and TDNI were also significantly higher in T₂ as compared to T₁ and T₃. The difference for water intake was not affected by the treatment groups. There was change in blood biochemical parameters with response to treatments. The treatments groups did not show any significant effect on lactate, triglyceride, creatinine, phosphorus and calcium but the glucose, urea, cholesterol and aspartate transaminase contents were significantly (P<0.05) higher in T₂ than T₃ and T₁. It may be concluded that feeding of total mix ration with equal proportions of soybean straw and gram straw improved nutrient digestibility and utilization in dromedary camels.