Nutritional evaluation of sugarcane pressmud in lambs

Bannur ram lambs (20; 3–4 months old of 9.07±0.46 kg BW) were assigned equally in completely randomized design to four isonitrogenous and isocaloric concentrate mixtures (CM). Sugarcane pressmud (SPM), a sugar industry byproduct, was incorporated at 0, 1, 2 and 3 per cent in CM to form control (C), SPM₁, SPM₂ and SPM₃ groups, respectively to cater the minerals and organic nutrients. The roughage (equal parts of napier grass and ragi straw) to concentrate ratio was 50: 50. The feeding trial revealed that the DM intake, digestibility of nutrients, N and Ca retention, average daily gain and feed conversion ratio were similar among treatments. The status of calcium, magnesium and inorganic phosphorous in the blood of SPM based groups was quite comparable to that of control and were with in the normal physiological range. The stall fed sheep could tolerate the incorporation of SPM upto 3% in the CM both nutritionally and economically.