Journal of Camel Practice and Research

The experiment was carried out to study the effect of feeding different levels of energy and protein along with groundnut haulms (Arachis hypogaea) on performance of dromedary camels. Three concentrate mixtures were formulated viz., high protein and low energy (T₁); high energy and low protein (T₂) and medium protein and energy (T₃). The digestible dry matter intake (DDMI) was 6.86, 6.61 and 7.5 kg/day, respectively in T₁, T₂ and T₃ which did not differ significantly from each other. The difference for DCP and TDN contents were significant between the treatment groups. There was significant difference for digestible crude protein intake (DCPI) and total digestible nutrient intake (TDNI) among the treatment groups. The power output and speed of operation was significantly (P<0.05) higher in T₃ as compared to others, but there was non-significant difference for draught (kgf). The camels in all the treatments were within the safe limit of physiological responses but there was significant (P<0.05) increase in the pulse and respiration rates after carting. The results of the study concluded that the performance of camels was higher in T₃ treatment as compared to either high protein or high energy supplementation.