Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Arid Region Campus, Bikaner-334 006, India
Thirty rams divided into five groups were allowed to graze on a 15 ha degraded sewan (Lasiurus sindicus) pasture at stocking density of 2 animals/ha for a period of 14 weeks. Control group (T1) was not supplemented while T2 was supplemented with conventional concentrate mixture @ 200 g/h/d. Ground sirus (Albizia lebbeck) pod was incorporated in the concentrate mixtures @ 20, 30 and 40% in groups T3, T4 and T5, respectively. The rams sustained their body weight as intakes of dry matter, crude protein and total digestible nutrients were just adequate on sole pasture. Concentrate supplementation significantly improved live weight gains. Increase in protein content of the concentrate supplements through incorporation of sirus pods did not have additional advantage for wool production indicating that pods could be used as a moderate protein as well as energy source.
Albizia lebbeck pods, Arid region, Sheep, Wool production
