The Indian Journal of Small Ruminants
Year : 1995, Volume : 1, Issue : 1
First page : ( 31) Last page : ( 34)
Print ISSN : 0971-9857.

Growth performance of lambs on mustard (Brassica compestris) straw based complete feed

Misra A.K., Karim S.A., Patnayak B.C., Verma D.L.

Central Sheep & Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar (Via) Jaipur, Rajasthan-304 501

Abstract

Possibility of utilizing mustard (Barassica compestris) straw in growing lambs was explored by feeding untreated (G1) and ammoniated (G2) mustard straw and concentrate in 50:50 ratio in a composite ration. The experiment continued for 90 days followed by metabolic trial to assess the plane of nutrition. Experimental results indicated that ammoniation of straw increased its CP content from 3.7 to 8.3 per cent. DMI in both the groups werelower, more so, in G2 (1.7% of B.W.) compared to G1 (2.9% of B.W.). In general the digestibility coefficients of nutrients were higher in G2 compared to G1. The lambs in both the groups were in positive N balance. The lambs in G1 consumed 56.8 g DM, 1.3 g DCP, 15.3 g TDN/kg W0.75/day and had 34 g ADG, whereas lambs in G2 with 31.5 g DM, 2.2 g DCP and 11.5 g TDN/kg W0.75/day did not gain rather lost weight during 90 days feeding period. It is thus concluded that mustard straw cannot be utilized as source of roughage in lamb feeding and that its ammoniation and feeding further negates the gain due to physiological stage of the animal.

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