Evaluation of Groundnut Straw Based Complete Feed Blocks Alone and in Combination with Yeast in Ration of Sheep Garg D.D.*, Sharma T., Dhuria R.K. Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Bikaner-334 001, India. *Reprint request: Dr. D.D. Garg, Department of Animal Nutrition, Navsari Agriculture University, Navsari-396 450, India, E-mail: drddgarg@gmail.com.
Abstract Groundnut straw based complete feed blocks with (YS) or without (YU) yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) were fed to sheep to study the effect on nutrient utilization, growth performance and rumen fermentation pattern by conducting a growth trial of 120 days followed by metabolism trial of 7 days on 12 male Magra lambs divided in two groups of 6 in each. The dry matter intake was 72.13 and 74.33 g/kgW0.75 and 3.52 and 3.56 kg/100 kg BW, respectively in YU and YS groups. Apparent digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, gross nutrients and fibre fractions were comparable between two groups. Average daily gain was significantly higher in YS group (88.57 g) compared to YU group (80.26 g), whereas, feed conversion ratio was similar. The DCP and TDN contents were 10.53 and 51.82 per cent in YU group and 11.32 and 56.38 per cent in YS group, respectively. Animals of both groups were in positive nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus balance. Yeast supplementation significantly improved rumen fermentation by stabilizing rumen pH, decreased concentrations of lactic acid, ammonia nitrogen, NPN and increased TVFA, total protozoal counts, total nitrogen and TCA perceptible nitrogen. It was concluded that groundnut straw based complete feed blocks along with yeast supplementation could be beneficial to improve performance of sheep due to a marked improvement in rumen fermentation pattern. Top Keywords Groundnut straw, Yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Complete feed, Digestibility, Sheep, Performance. Top |