Effect of Dietary Cation-Anion Difference (DCAD) Levels on Growth and Blood Constituents in Deccani Lambs

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different levels of dietary cation-anion differences (DCAD) on growth and blood constituents of Deccani lambs. A sorghum stover- based complete ration (roughage: concentrate in 50:50) was prepared as a basal diet. Sodium bicarbonate was added at 0.00, 0.477 and 0.955% to the basal diet to achieve a DCAD level of 160, 220 and 280 mEq/kg DM, respectively. Eighteen Deccani lambs (6-7months-old with average body weight of 23.86 kg) were randomly allotted to 3 dietary groups with 6 animals in each as DCAD-160 (control), DCAD-220 and DCAD-280. Lambs were fed ad libitum on their respective rations individually for a period of 120 days. No significant difference was observed in average daily gain (ADG: 51.94, 63.47 and 67.22g/d) and feed conversion ratio (FCR: 17.44, 15.47 and 15.58) in lambs on DCAD-160, DCAD-220 and DCAD-280 ration, respectively. Likewise, DCAD levels had no significant effect on blood constituents (total protein, albumin, globulin, blood urea nitrogen) and serum sodium, potassium and chloride levels in lambs. It was concluded that, DCAD levels of +220 and +280 mEq/kg DM in sorghum stover-based complete rations did not improve the growth and feed efficiency of Deccani lambs.