Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary Science, Tirupati-517 502, India
Online published on 5 January, 2012.
Three isonitrogenous complete rations containing groundnut haulms (CR-1), banyan (Ficus bengalensis) tree leaves (CR-2) and red gram straw (CR-3) at SO percent level were fed to Nellore weaner male lambs (4m; 14.8±0.9 kg) for 100 d. The ADG was 75, 72 and 97 g for CR-1, CR-2 and CR-3, respectively. The DM intake was significantly (P<0.01) higher for. Iambs on CR-1 and CR-2 than CR-3, while the feed : gain ratio was significantly (P<0.05) tower for CR-1 and CR-3 compared to CR-2. The apparent digestibilities of DM, OM, CP and CF for CR-1 and CR-3 were similar but significantly (P < 0.01) higher than CR-2. All the Iambs were on positive N, Ca and P balances with the differences among treatments being non-significant. The result indicated that the performance of growing male lambs on complete rations containing groundnut haulms and red gram straw at 5© per cent level was comparable and superior to the complete diet containing banyan tree leaves.
