Animal Nutrition Division, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar-243 122, India
Online published on 21 January, 2012.
Thirty non-pregnant and non-lactating brood mares, each of Mountain Artillary (MABM) and General Service (GSBM) breeds were used to compare the effect of feeding scale ration of 3.21 kg of standard concentrate mixture (control group) and an all-roughagc ration consisting of a mixture of good quality cereal and leguminous fodders (experimental group) on their reproductive performance. The DM intake per unit body weight was significantly higher in MABM than GSBM. The digestibility of organic nutrients except the CP and the percentage retention of N, Ca and P, were not significantly different due to the treatment and breed effects. The CP digestibility was significantly higher in the control group of both the breeds. The intake of DCP and DE was much higher than the NRC recommended level in both groups of the two breeds. The average fertility percentage in MABM and GSBM was not significantly affected by the nutritional treatments. Average daily body weight gain was not affected by the treatments and breeds during non-pregnant and early pregnant stages, but it A as higher in MABM than the GSBM during late pregnant stage. The loss in body weight of mares during lactation was more evident in experimental than in control group of both the breeds.
