Sesbania grandiflora as a Replacement for Groundnut Cake in Complete Diets for Sheep

The nutritive value of Sesbania grandiflora leaves was determined using 4 Nellore Yearling rams (17.67kg). Positive balances (g/d) for N (7.63), Ca (1.04) and P (0.25) were observed. The DCP%, TDN%, DE(Mcal/kg;) and ME (Meal/kg) values, respectively, were 21.92, 64.12, 3.27 and 2.49. In experiment 2, replacement ofgroundnutcake-N by sesbania leafmealat 0 (T₁), 33 (T₂), 67 (T₃) and 100% (T₄) level in complete diets for Nellore rams (18.95ky) in a 4x4 latin square design did not affect the digestibility of Fibre fractions of proximate principles or the nutritive value except EE. The N- retention was higher in lambs in group T₄ than those in T₁ when expressed as g/d (P<0.01)org/d/W^0.75kg (P<0.05). It was concluded that sesbania leaf had better nutritive value than leaf meal though the leaf meal could be used to completely replace groundnut cake - N in complete diets for Nellore rams.