Performance of Growing Female Albino Rats Fed on Partially Replaced Wheat, Maize and Milk Diets

Thirty weaned female albino rats (aged 5–6 weeks) were randomly divided in to three groups of 10 each in complete randomized design. Control diet contained wheat 62%, maize 30%, wheat bran 7%, common salt 1% and whole milk @ 1 ml/g. Whereas in two experimental diets milk was completely replaced with partial replacement of wheat and maize with barley, GNE, lard, molasses, vitamin and trace minerals. The feeding trial was conducted for a period of 10 weeks. After 10 weeks of experimental feeding a digestion trial was conducted to assess the nutrient digestibility. On 11 weeks of experimental feeding rats were allowed for breeding and liter size and mortality was observed. The CP and EE content in diets 1, 2 and 3 were 15.8, 3.91; 16.6, 3.86 and 16.2, 3.82%, respectively. The dry matter and organic matter intakes (g/kg W0.75/d) ranged from 0.27 to 0.28 and 0.23 to 0.27, respectively and were not significantly different among groups. Similar observations were found with respect to the CP where it was ranged from 0.053 to 0.061 g/kg W^0.75/d. The digestibility of DM, OM, CP and EE in group 1, 2 and 3 were also comparable. The body weight gain (g/d) varied form 1.58 (group 1) to 1.70 (group 3) and values were comparable among groups. Litter size in groups 1, 2 and 3 was 5.50. 4.67 and 5.12, respectively which did not differ significantly among the groups. The mortality in groups 112 and 3 was 20,10 and 20% respectively. Results showed that milk can be completely replaced from the diet of albino rats along with partial replacement of wheat and maize without affecting the growth and reproductive performance. Further it was also observed that these diets can be safely stored (aflatoxin B1 contents than 10 ppb) up to five months under poly-packed conditions.