Effect of Turmeric Powder Supplementation on Nutrient Utilization, Rumen Fermentation and Growth Performance in Sheep

A study was carried out to assess the effect of turmeric powder supplementation on nutrient utilization, rumen fermentation and growth in sheep. Sixteen West African Dwarf female sheep (6 to 7 months-old) were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments in a completely randomized design. The treatment diets T₁, T₂, T₃ and T₄ contained 0, 1,2 and 3% turmeric powder, respectively. At the end of the feeding trial, nitrogen balance, energy retention, rumen fermentation and growth were assessed. The results showed that feed conversion ratio (7.62), ether extract digestibility (68.79%), total nitrogen output (4.23 g/day), gross energy intake (2748.10 kcal/day DM), total energy output (895.97 kcal/day DM), rumen ammonia nitrogen (19.23 mg/dL), acetate (62.04 mol/100mL) and butyrate (5.82 mol/100mL) were significantly (P<0.05) higher in T₁ than T₂, T₃ and T₄. diets. Feed intake (269.11 g/day), daily weight gain (46.19 g/day), digestibility of dry matter (74.23%), crude protein (69.99%), crude fibre (70.94%), nitrogen free extract (72.11%), nitrogen intake (12.07 g/day), nitrogen balance and retention (9.57% and 79.29%), digestible and metabolizable energy (1453.51 and 1191.89 kcal/day DM), total volatile fatty acids (99.67 mol/L) and propionate (24.98 mol/100mL) were significantly (P<0.05) higher in sheep on diet T₄ than T₀, T₁, T₂ and T₃. It can be concluded that supplementation of turmeric powder (2 to 3%) in sheep diets improves digestibility, nitrogen balance, energy retention, rumen fermentation and growth performance in sheep.