Nutrient intake and utilization in sheep fed urea treated bajra kadbi and mustard straw

The reported study is an attempt to utilize urea treated bajra kadbi (BK) and mustard straw (MS) with or without molasses for maintaining empty ewes during scarcity. Urea treated BK (T₁), T₁ + molasses (T₂), Urea treated MS (T₃) and T₃ + molasses (T₄) were fed to empty ewes. All the four groups of ewes maintained on sole urea treated BK and MS or these two roughage in conjunction with molasses for 45 days, showed marked loss in body weight exceeding the critical limit of 20 per cent. After 45 days the protocol of sole roughage feeding was abandoned and in its place all the groups were supplemented with 200 g concentrate/head/day for rest of the period. A metabolic trial was conducted towards the end of experiment to assess their plane of nutrition. Urea treatment of BK and MS increased their CP content from 2.9 to 7.6 and 2.3 to 7.6 per cent respectively. Initiation of supplementation after 45 days checked the body weight losses and mortality in all the groups. Under the regimen of regulated concentrate supplementation (200 g/head/day) and ad lib roughage, the ratio of roughage to concentrate in total DMI was wider in T₁ (4:1) than T₂ T₃ and T₄ (3:1). Digestibility of DM and nutrients were generally higher in T₁ and T₂ than T₃ and T₄. Nutrient intake of the four groups was 73.6. 61.3, 71.7 and 61.2 g DM; 4.9, 4.5, 5.3 and 3.1 g DCP and 153.3, 130.0, 113.2 and 94.2 Kcal DE/kg W^0.75 respectively in T₁ T₂ T₃ and T₄. It is concluded that sole feeding of urea treated BK and MS could meet the nitrogen requirement of the sheep, whereas addition of molasses as energy supplement had negative effect and depressed the nutrient utilization profile of the animals. However, urea treated bajra kadbi and mustard straw with 200g concentrate supplementation can maintain the sheep during scarcity.