Effect of Replacing Mustard cake with Green Berseem on Feed Intake and Nutrient Utilization in Sheep fed Sorghum Stover Based Diets

Twenty female Jalauni sheep (24.7 ± 1.96 kg) divided into 4 groups (T₁ to T₄) of 5 each, were offered a composite ration of sorghum stovers and mustard cake and! or green Bundel berseem-2 to record the effect of replacing mustard cake with new variety of green berseem on feed intake and nutrient utilization. Sheep under T₁ group were fed mustard cake to meet the protein requirements, while mustard cake was replaced with green berseem at 25, 50 and 100% levels on nitrogen basis in animals under T₂, T₃ and T₄ groups, respectively. All the animals were supplemented with crushed barley @ 100 g per head per day basis as energy source. Animals were under this feeding regime for a period of 30 days followed by metabolism trial of 7 -day duration and collection of blood samples. Sorghum stover consumption was lower (P<0.05) in group T₁ when compared to group T₂, T₃ and T₄. However, stover intakes were comparable amongst T₂, T₃ and T₄ groups. Average daily dry matter intake (DMI) was 595, 785, 749 and 781 g in sheep of T₁, T₂, T₃ and T₄ group, respectively and the differences were significant (P <0.05) among the groups. DMI expressed as kg/100 kg live weight or g per kg W 0.75 was also significantly (P < 0.05) low in group T₁ in comparison to other groups. The percent digestibility of DM, OM, CP, NDF, ADF and cellulose except EE was significantly higher in sheep of groups T₂, T₃ and T₄ in comparison to group T₁. EE digestibility was higher (P < 0.05) in sheep of group T₁ than other groups. Average daily nitrogen retention was 3.67, 4.01, 4.42 and 4.92 g in group T T₂, T₃ and T₄, respectively, which differed significantly (P<0.05) amongst the groups. Nitrogen retention as percent of intake was maximum (37.66) in group T₄. Animals were kept on iso-nitrogenous diets consuming 6.95 to 7.39 g per kg W 0.75 of CP. But average TDN intakes (g/kg W 0.75) was low (P<0.01) in sheep of group T₁ in comparison to group T₂, T₃ and T₄. Dietary variations did not have significant influence on the blood metabolites like plasma glucose and protein, except plasma urea-No Concentrations (unit/dl) of plasma urea-N varied from 13.13 to 16.71 mg and was significantly (P<0.01) low in sheep under T₃ and T₄ groups. Hence, replacement of mustard cake with Bundel-2 variety of green berseem in sheep fed sorghum stovers based diets can improve feed intake as well as nutrient utilization.