Effect of Dry Legume Forage Supplementation to Green Colonial Grass on Growth and Nutrient Utilization in Sheep

Dry legume forages such as sunhemp hay, subabul and gliricidia leaf meals and groundnut haulms were supplemented at 32% (DM basis) to a green colonial grass in the rations of Iambs. Subabul leaf supplementation improved (P<0.05) DM intake and body weight gain (g/day) and apparent digestibility (%) of organic nutrients like CP, CF, cellulose and hemicellulose than the supplementation of other legume forages. Significantly (P<0.05) higher nitrogen (N) intake and retention and higher calcium and phosphorus retention were observed in Iambs supplemented with dry subabul leaf meal to green colonial grass in Iambs. It can be concluded that suplementation of dry subabul leaf meal at 32% of DM intake is better than other legume forage supplements in the ration of Nellore brown lambs.