Evaluation of groundnut haulms based complete rations with or without yeast culture in sheep

Complete rations containing groundnut haulms (GNH) and concentrates in 60:40 or 70:30 ratio with or without yeast culture product (YCP) were fed to sheep to study the effect on nutrient utilization and rumen fermentation pattern in a switch over manner. The ammonia nitrogen concentration and bacterial count in rumen liquor was higher (P<0.05) in YCP supplemented group. Higher plane of nutrition with significant (P<0.01) increase in DCP intake was observed in 60:40 ration and due to YCP supplementation. The digestibility of nutrients was not influenced by the treatments, except higher (P<0.05) cellulose digestibility in YCP supplemented sheep. The nitrogen retention was higher (P<0.05) in 60:40 ration and due to YCP supplementation. The calcium retention was not affected by the treatments while phosphorus retention was higher (P<0.05) in YCP supplemented sheep. It was concluded that groundnut haulms inclusion up to 60% in the complete diets along with yeast culture could improve performance of sheep.