Title: Utilization of artificially grown barley fodder by sheep
Abstract: Nutritive value and animal performance of feeding artificially grown barley fodder (fometa) was assessed in sheep at two physiological stages. Eight each of Bharat Merino adult rams, and hoggets constituted the experimental stock. Initially the hoggets and rams were maintained on sole fometa for 60 days (period 1) followed by ground cenchrus hay ad lib. and three and two kg/h/d Fometa for another 60 days (period 2). The nutritive value of the fodder was assessed in a metabolism trial with hoggets during sole Fometa feeding. The average yield of Fometa fodder was 10.4 q/d containing 79.30% moisture, 15.74% CP, 9.37% CF, 1.97% EE and 70.27% NFE. The digestibility of DM and proximate principles except CF ranged between 75–90 per cent whereas CF digestibility was 65 per cent. The nutritive value of Fometa assessed on hoggets indicated DCP and TDN content of 12.5 and 82.9 per cent respectively. The DMI of animal during sole Fometa feeding ranged between 3.2 to 4.0 per cent of their body weight in different physiological stages. The hoggets maintained on sole Fometa consumed 840g DM and 105g DCP and 696g TDN/d and gained @ 39g/d whereas the same animals when fed Fometa with Cenchrus hay gained at a higher rate (50g/d). Sole Fometa fed rams gained @ 82g/d and rams maintained on Fometa and Cenchrus hay gained @ 62g/d. It was concluded that nutritive value of Barley Fometa fodder was comparable to Barley grain. Sole feeding of Fometa fodder did not support the expected production traits in the animals whereas feeding in conjunction with dry fodder improved its utilization.
Publication Year: 1998
Publication Date: 1998-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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Cited By Count: 7
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