Division of Animal Nutrition and Biochemistry, Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar - 304501, India
Online published on 5 January, 2012.
Eighteen crossbred (Nali x Kambouillet) Sheep (8m 21.25 kg) were divided into 3 equal groups and fed Pala (Zizyphus nummularia) leeves ad libitum untreated (A) or treated with water (B) or polyethylene glycol (C) for 3m. The voluntary intake of sheep increated bv h.w fola in C rs compared to those in gps A and B. Similarly, the CP and OM intake digestibilities also increased in gp C as compared to gps A and B. The serum albumin (3.48 g/100 ml) and blood urea-N (20.89 mg/100ml) levels were adequate in sheep in gp C. However, the animals In gps A and B lost weieht by 3.43 and 3.46 kg respectively. The sheep in gp C, however, gained 6.28 kg. Wool yield also increased by two folds due to treatment of leaves with PEGa Thd improved productivity of sheep fed PEG treated pala leaves was attributable to the binding of tannin present in pala heeves with PEG.
