Growth performance and economics of sheep production fed with coated slow release non-protein nitrogen products Manju G.U.1,*, Nagalakshmi D., Nagabhushana V.1, Venkateswarlu N.M., Rajanna V.2 Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary Sciences, PVNRTVU, Hyderabad - 500030, India 1Department of Animal Nutrition, Veterinary College, Shivamogga, KVAFSU, Karnataka - 577201, India 2Department of Livestock Production and Management, College of Veterinary Sciences, PVNRTVU, Hyderabad - 500030, India *Correspondence: manjuann631@gmail.com
Online published on 10 November, 2022. Abstract A study was conducted on 30 ram lambs (3–4 month old; 14.7±0.49 kg body weight) randomly allotted to 5 dietary treatments with 6 animals in each group in a completely randomized design to evaluate the effect of supplementation of SRNPN products on growth performance, nutrient utilisation and blood biochemical constituents. The 5 maize stover based complete diets (2190 kcal ME/kg and 14.6% CP) were prepared viz. control diet with SBM as major protein source (45% CP) and without any non protein nitrogen supplement, positive control diet, having urea (46% N) around 1% of dietary DM and in other 3 diets, urea was totally replaced with fat coated urea (FCU), Calcium salts of fatty acid coated urea (CFCU) and Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose coated urea (HMCCU). Supplementation of slow release non protein nitrogen (SRNPN) products did not affect the fortnightly body weight, average daily gain and dry matter intake throughout the study. The blood collected at start and 120th day indicated no effect on blood biochemical constituents. While the blood urea nitrogen concentration was higher (P<0.01) in urea diet fed lambs while in SRNPN fed lambs, it was comparable to control. The cost of feeding per kg gain was higher in urea diet fed lambs by 23.52% compared to control. While in FCU, CFCU and HMCCU fed lambs, it was lowered by 16.18, 20.56 and 15.98%, respectively compared to urea fed lambs. In comparison to control group, cost of feeding per kg gain increased by 3.59 and 3.85% for FCU and HMCCU and decreased by 1.91% in CFCU group respectively. Top Keywords Average daily gain, Blood biochemical constituents, Cost economics, Lambs, Slow release urea products. Top |