Performance of lambs fed karanj seed cake as protein supplement

The study was taken up to assess the effect of substitution of soybean meal (SBM) with karanj (Pongamia glabra vent) seed cake on the performance of lambs. Male crossbred lambs (24; 3–4 m old of 8.78 ± 0.20 kg BW) divided into 4 equal groups were fed isonitrogenous and isocaloric concentrate mixtures containing either 22% SBM (C) or SBM in C was replaced at 25 (T₁) or 50% (T₂) level by solvent extracted karanj seed cake (SKC) on N-basis or at 50% level by NaOH treated SKC (T₃) supplemented with ad lib wheat straw for 165 days. Incorporation of karanj seed cake did not affect the palatability of diets as evidenced by comparable daily intakes of DM, protein (CP & DCP) and energy (TDN) per kgW^0.75 by lambs in comparison to control diet. The digestibility of nutrients and retention of nitrogen (2.93–3.22 g/d), calcium (1.68–1.77 g/d) and phosphorus (1.21–1.28 g/d) were similar between control and test diets. The lambs on test diets grew at par with lambs on control diet. The efficiency of utilization of DM, CP and energy for live weight gain was comparable between control and experimental groups. It was inferred that the substitution of SBM with SKC or alkali processed SKC did not cause any harmful effect on the performance of lambs.