Institute of Animal Nutrition, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Kattupakkam- 603 203, Tamil Nadu
*E-mail address: radhakrish67@yahoo.com
Online published on 11 September, 2013.
In vitro dry matter degradability of rations containing mango peel waste and Tapioca thippi (40:60) replacing wheat bran at 0, 25, 50 and 100% levels and by adding urea at 0, 3, 4 and 5% levels in a total of 16 complete rations to optimize the urea level revealed significantly (P<0.01) higher degradability at 4% urea incorporated complete rations than at 0, 3 and 5% urea levels. The selected four complete rations containing mango peel waste and Tapioca thippi blend with 4% urea (MPTTUB) replacing wheat bran at 0 (T1), 25 (T2), 50 (T3) and 100% (T4) levels were tested in lambs by growth and in vivo digestibility trials. The average daily body weight gain in lambs fed with complete rations was 38.15, 38.89, 34.17 and 23.89 g, respectively in T1, T2, T3 and T4 and significantly (P<0.01) lower in T4 in which wheat bran was completely replaced with MPTTUB. The dry matter, crude protein and crude fibre digestibility in T4 were significantly lower (P<0.05) compared to other treatment groups. It was concluded that the mango peel waste and Tapioca thippi at 40:60 ratio could be optimally incorporated with 4% urea and could be included in complete ration of lambs to replace the expensive wheat bran up to 50% level.
Complete ration, Lambs, Mango peel waste, Tapioca thippi, Urea