Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary Science, S.V. Veterinary University, Rajendra Nagar, Hyderabad, 500 030, Andhra Pradesh, India
*Corresponding author e-mail: bakasudheer@gmail.com
Online published on 24 April, 2014.
Three complete diets T1, T2 and T3 were formulated using sorghum stover, maize stover and sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench) bagasse, respectively and processed into expander extruded pellets. Diets T1 and T2 were evaluated in comparison to diet T3 in eighteen ram lambs weighing 19.4 ± 0.09 kg during end of growth trial following a completely randomized design. The DM intake was significantly (P<0.05) higher in lambs fed diet T2 and T3 as compared to T1. Digestibility of DM, OM, CP, CF, EE, NFE were significantly higher (P<0.05) in T3 fed group. The digestibility of NDF and cellulose were significantly (P<0.05) higher in T3 and T2 as compared to T1. The ADF digestibility was higher (P>0.05) in T2 followed by T3 and T1, respectively. All the experimental lambs were on positive nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus balance. It is concluded that 50% sweet sorghum bagasse can be incorporated in the complete rations of sheep without affecting the intake and nutrient digestibility.
Sweet Sorghum Bagasse (SSB), Expander extruded pellets, Nutrient utilization, Ram lambs, Sheep, Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench, Sorghum stover, Maize stover, Complete diets
