Department of Animal Nutrition, Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar125004, India
Online published on 5 January, 2012.
Wheat straw and poplar (Populus deltoideus) leaves were ensiled for 120 d in the ratio of 1:7, supplemented with 3 per cent molasses, The silage, thus, prepared, had a pH of 4.8 and its CP, lactic acid and NH3-N contents were 3.72, 0.51 and 0.011 per cent, respectively, on fresh basis. Eight adult Nali breed male sheep (about 4 years, 30-35 kg) were divided equally into two groups and fed on wheat straw-poplar silage (A) and oat hay (B) ad libitum. The average daily dry matter intake (DMI) was 25.58 g and 26.70 g/kg body weight in group A and B, respectively. The DCP (%), TDN (%) and ME (MJ/kg) were 5.02, 55.33 and 8.66 (silage) and 2.56, 57.55 and 8.91 (oat hay), respectively. The results indicated that the poplar leaves-wheat straw silage could form a maintenance ration for adult sheep.
