Utilization of Ensiled Groundnut Haulm and Paddy Straw

Silage of a mixture of groundnut haulm and paddy straw (4:1, on fresh basis), prepared inkutcha silo pit, contained DM 30.57, CP 9.73, EE 1.17, CF 16.78, NFE 41.40, ash 31.21 and acid insoluble ash 18.60% with a pH of 4.75. Ten adult rams were divided into two groups of 5 each. Control group was maintained on grain straw and concentrate mixture in the ratio of 60:40 on ME basis while the experimental group was fed on silage ad lib as sole ration for 68 d including a metabolism trial of 6 d duration. The average DM intakes of silage and conven-tional ration were 3.17 kg and 2.32 kg/100 kg body weight, respectively. The nutritive value of silage was: DCP 4.72%, TDN 40.86%, DE 7.31 MJ/Kg and ME 6.43 MJ/kg DM, respectively. Rams fed on silage or conventional ration were in positive nitrogen balance and maintained body weight during 68 d feeding trial. Moreover, ME and CP intakes were 120.6 kcal (505 KJ) and 7.79g/kg W^0.75 in silage group. The corresponding intakes in control group were 116.6 kcal (488 KJ) and 5.03 g/kg W^0.75. It was concluded that adult sheep could be maintained on the sole feeding off ensiled groundnut haulm with paddy straw in above ratio.