Comparison of feeding straw supplemented molasses, urea and rice gruel on the production performance of sheep

Abstract

The experiment was conducted to study the comparison of feeding straw supplemented molasses, urea and rice gruel on the production performance of sheep. There were three dietary treatment groups such as, control diet (Concentrate feed and straw), 3% urea +15% molasses and 3% urea +15% rice gruel in diets of T0, T1 and T2 respectively.. Twelve indigenous sheep of about fourteen months of age with an average body weight of 15.14±0.07 kg were distributed into three treatment groups. The feeding trial continued for 10 weeks. Green grass and concentrate mixture was offered on the basis of dry matter requirement of the experimental sheep. From this experiment it was found that final body weight of different weeks differed significantly among treatment groups where highest value of body weight was found in T1 (UMS) group. It was also found that 1st to 9th weeks of body weight gain differed significantly (P<0.001) among the treatment groups where highest value of weight gain was found in T1 (UMS) group. Nutrient digestibility of DM and EE were found significantly increased in T1 (UMS) group, while the highest value of CP, CF, Ash and NFE were found in T0 (Control) group. Hematological parameters like Hb and PCV were significantly increased in T1 (UMS) group. Glucose and cholesterol level in blood were significantly (P<0.01) increased in T0 (Control) and T2 (URS) groups respectively . It was found that blood level of total protein and albumin were significantly (P<0.05) differed among different treatment groups where highest value of total protein and albumin were found in T1 (UMS) and T2 (URS) groups respectively and lowest was in T0 (Control) group. K and P were significantly increased in T1 (UMS) group whereas Ca, Mg, Cl and Na were significantly increased in T2 (URS) and T0 (Control) groups respectively. The pH of the rumen liquor peaked at 8h post feeding and lowest pH value was attained at 4h post-feeding for all the treatment groups. The bacterial count in 4h pre-feeding was significantly (p< 0.05) higher in T1 (UMS) group. The protozoal count at different hours of post-feeding differed significantly (p<0.01) among all treatment groups and attained to peak at 4h of post-feeding for all and decreased to lowest value at 4h of pre-feeding for T1(UMS) and T2 (URS) and 0h of post-feeding for T0 (Control) group. The study showed that rice straw supplemented with urea and rice gruel could efficiently be added to sheep ration to increase the performance of the animals.