Effect of replacing maize with broken rice or sorghum grain in complete feed on biochemical and semen characteristics of Nellore rams

The effect of replacement of maize with broken rice or sorghum grain on growth, biochemical and semen characters of rams was studied. Eighteen Nellore rams (1yr old, 25.0±0.57 kg body weight) were randomly divided into 3 groups of 6 each. Three complete feeds were formulated using maize (CFMG), broken rice (CFBR) and sorghum (CFSG) as cereal along with sorghum stover as roughage with concentrate to roughage of 50:50. Total body weight gain in 90 days of experimental feeding was significantly (P<0.01) higher in CFBR (10.51 kg) followed by CFSG (10.34 kg) and CFMG (9.22 kg). Feed conversion ratio varied significantly (P<0.01) from 9.57 (CFBR) to 10.33 (CFMG). On 90 days of experimental feeding, serum low density lipoprotein (mg/dl), triglycerides (mg/dl), serum cholesterol (mg/dl) and serum testosterone (ng/dl) were significantly (P<0.05) higher in CFSG (29.95±0.35, 78.61±0.80, 81.34±1.97 and 82.84±11.28) than CFBR (28.42±0.72, 77.59±1.23, 79.87±1.18 and 80.05±12.01) or CFMG (27.38±0.67, 76.77±0.45, 75.98±0.91 and 77.35±8.99). On 90 days of experimental feeding, semen volume (ml) and sperm concentration (x10⁶ ml) were significantly (P<0.05) higher in rams fed CFSG (1.06±1.34 and 3994.9±9.20) as compared CFBR (0.90±1.87 and 3790.6±8.20) or CFMG (0.70±0.94 and 3685.0±2.30). The study suggested that sorghum is the best replacement followed by broken rice for maize in the complete feed of rams.