Department of Feed & Fodder Technology, A. P. Agricultural University, College of Veterinary Science, Hyderabad-, 500 030, India
Online published on 29 December, 2011.
Four complete diets containing equal quantity of different roughages such as sorghum straw (40%), sunflower (Helianthus annuus) heads (40%), sunflower heads (30%) + groundnut haulms (10%) or sunflower heads (20%) + groundnut haulms (20%) were compared with a conventional diet (concentrate mixture+chopped sorghum straw) in metabolism experiments by feeding to 5 crossbred bulls using a 5x5 Latin Square Design. DM intake was comparable in all the diets. Digestibility of OM and lignin were significantly (P<0.01) lower in complete diet 2, while the digestibilities of all other nutrients were comparable in all the diets. All the experimental animals were in positive N, Ca and P balances. DCP content was significantly(P<0.01) higher on complete diet 4 and lower on conventional diet while TDN content was comparable on all the diets. These results indicated that sunflower heads are potential source of roughage for ruminants and their utilization can be improved by supplementing groundnut haulms.
