Evaluation of Complete Rations Containing Groundnut Haulms at Different Levels in Sheep

Three isonitrogenous complete rations (CR) containing groundnut haulms at 50 (CR1), 60 (CR2) and 70% (CR3) level were formulated and evaluated using growing Nellore brown lambs (14.2±0.1kg B.wt). Average daily gain (ADG) was significantly (P<0.05) higher in lambs fed CRI (59 g) or CR2 (53g) than those on CR3 (46 g). DM intake (g/day) was significantly (P<0.01) higher in lambs fed CRI than those fed CR2 or CR3. DMI/kg gain was superior in lambs fed CRI (10.4) or CR2 (10.8) than those fed on CR3 (11.8). The digestibility of DM, NFE and cellulose, intake of DCP and TDN and N retention were higher (P<0.05) in Iambs fed CRI or CR2 than those fed CR3. Higher Ca (3.6g/day) and P (3.8 g/day) retentions were observed in Iambs fed CRI tha|i those fed CR2 or CR3. It can be concluded that the optimum level of inclusion of groundnut haulms as roughage source is 60% in complete rations of growing lambs.