Effect of Feeding Sorghum Hay, Maize Stover and Areca Sheath Based Total Mixed Ration Feed Block (TMRfb) on Nutrient Intake, Digestibility and Cost Economics in Growing Lambs

A comparative study on sorghum hay, maize stover and areca sheath based total mixed ration feed block (fb) on voluntary feed intake, digestibility, growth performance and rumen fermentation parameters was conducted in growing lambs. Eighteen non-descript lambs aged 4-6 months with an average body weight of 17±0.9kg were randomly allotted to three experimental diets with roughage to concentrate ratio of 60:40. The T1-diet comprised of sorghum hay based TMRfb, T2-diet comprised of maize stover based TMRfb and T3-diet comprised of areca sheath based TMRfb. The average DMI (g/d) of TMRfb varied significantly (P<0.01) from 480.81 (T2) to 738.19 (T1) with 34.86 percent lower intake in maize stover based group compare to control. The ADG (g/d) was significantly (P<0.01) higher in T1 (85.2), compared to T3 (64.3) followed by T2 (35.9). The digestibility of DM, OM, and CF was higher in T3 compared to T1 and T2. Digestibility of CP was (P<0.01) higher in T1 and T3 compared to T2. The intake of DCP (g/d), TDN (g/d) and ME (MJ/d) intake were significantly (P<0.01) higher in T1 (69.77, 531.87 and 9.03) as compared to T2 (30.82, 367.07 and 5.39) and T3 (32.85, 362.36 and 5.33). It was observed that sorghum hay based TMR had better feed intake and average daily gain compared to maize stover and areca sheath-based groups. However, cost per kg gain was 36.90 percent higher in areca sheath based TMR groups compared to sorghum hay based group.