1B.H.U., Varanasi - 221005 (U.P.)
Department of Animal Production and Management, Nagaland University, SASRD, Medziphema-797106, Nagaland, India
Online published on 7 April, 2012.
Four rams (Marino x Mandia) of same age and body weight (22.25 kg) were fed solely on green oat fodder for 85 days. DM, CP, CF, EE, Total ash, NFE, Ca and P content of oat fodder was 22.0, 9.6, 34.8, 1.8, 9.4, 44.6, 1, 3 and 0.27 percent on DM basis, respectively. The apparent digestibility of DM, OM, CF, NFE, CP and EE was 64.76, 66.25, 68.0, 67.5, 71.5 and 50.0 percent, respectively. The values for DCP (%), TDN (%), DE (Mcal/g) and ME (Mcal/g) of oat fodder were 6.87, 62.57, 0.276 and 0.226, respectively. Mean body weight gain during the whole period was 63.49 g/h/d with a positive nitrogen balance. It was concluded that sole feeding of oat fodder could not meet the growth requirement of crossbred rams.
Oat fodder, Sole feeding, Growth performance, Nutritive value, Crossbred ram
