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Two hundred-forty 3-weeks-old Aseel birds from Lakha, Mushki, Peshaweri and Mianwali varieties of indigenous Aseel were chosen (60 birds/variety, 30 males and 30 females) to evaluate the influence of selenium supplements on growth performance. The birds of either sex were divided according to randomized complete block design into A, B and C treatment groups (10 birds/treatment); A and B were experimental, while C was control. Se-enriched yeast (organic selenium) and sodium selenite (inorganic selenium) were supplemented @ 0.3 mg/kg in the basal diets of group A and B, respectively, while, group C was fed without additional selenium. Birds were maintained individually in battery cages from 4-21 weeks. Statistically, the results showed the reduced (P>0.05) feed intake, while enhanced (P≤0.05) nutrient utilization for dry matter, crude protein, crude fiber, crude fat and ash; superior feed conversion ratio; higher live final body weight; lower (P≤0.05) mortality and rearing cost in Se-enriched yeast fed birds, chiefly in the males of Lakha variety than those received sodium selenite supplemented or control diet. The study concluded that the organic selenium supplement (Se-enriched yeast) had a major influence in improving the overall growth performance of Aseel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment was carried out in 12 local adult male goats of average body weights (26.49±0.87, kg) and they were allocated in 3 groups (4 goats in each). Multi nutrient blocks (MNB) were supplemented in first two groups i.e. in T1 (no infection) and T2 (Haemonchus contortus infection @ 1500 larvae) group, while, condensed tannins (CT) containing multi nutrient blocks (MNB-CT) were supplemented in T3 (H. contortus infection @ 1500 larvae) group in completely randomized block design during a feeding trial of 75 days. All the animals were fed concentrate mixture @ 100g/ day, adlib wheat straw and MNB or MNB-CT to meet their maintenance requirement. Daily intakes (kg W0.75) of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), concentrate mixture, MNB, MNB-CT, wheat straw and digestibility of DM, OM, crude protein (CP) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) differed significantly (P<0.05) irrespective of groups. MNB-CT supplementation significantly (P<0.001) reduced serum urea (mg/dl) level and faecal egg counts (FECs) in T3 group as compared to MNB supplemented (T2) group. Serum proteins differed significantly (P<0.001) among groups. It may be concluded that MNB-CT supplementation indicates a positive impact on protein bioavailability and encouraging impact on nutrient utilization, biochemical constituents and health status of goats by lowering serum urea and FECs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

20 male Corriedale sheep (3 months of age) were divided into 5 equal groups viz, T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 and fed on measured quantity of concentrate mixture containing 0, 6, 12, 18 and 24% azolla replacing 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% linseed cake respectively. Measured quantity of good quality oat hay was offered to all the groups as per their body weight to meet their requirement. Highest body weight was observed in T1 group and it had no significant difference with T2 group, but it had significant difference with T3, T4 and T5 groups. T2 group had significant difference with T5 group, but with other groups it had no significant difference in final body weight. Lowest body weight was observed in T5 group but it had no significant difference with T3 and T4 groups. Highest DM digestibility was observed in T2 group and lowest DM digestibility was observed in T5. But no significant difference was observed in DM digestibility among the groups. Lowest FCR was observed in T1 (control) followed by T2 group and they had significant difference with T3, T4 and T5 group, but no significant difference was observed between T1 and T2 group. Lowest cost of feeding per kg of gain was observed in T2 group and it had significant difference with T3, T4 and T5 group but not with T1 group (control). No significant difference was also observed among T3, T4 and T5 group but significantly higher cost of feeding per kg of gain than T1 (control) group was observed in T3, T4 and T5 group. It was concluded that azolla can be added in the diet of growing sheep at 6% level replacing linseed cake without any adverse effect on the performance of the animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of supplementation of concentrate at different levels to sweet sorghum bagasse leaf residue (SSBLR) silage on nutrient utilization in growing lambs in a metabolism trial conducted after 120days of feeding. Sixteen growing Nellore ram lambs (18.3±0.8) were randomly allotted to 4 dietary groups (4 in each group) and were inducted into metabolic cages five days prior to collection for acclimatization followed by a seven day collection period. The four dietary groups were SSBLR silage fed ad libitum and supplemented with concentrate mixture (CP 17% and ME 2.53 Mcal/kg DM) at 0.0 (R-I), 0.75 (R-II), 1.0 (R-III) and 1.25 (R-IV) per cent of their live Weight. Significantly (P<0.01) higher total DMI (g/kg w0.75) was noticed in concentrate supplemented groups. The organic matter, crude protein and nitrogen free extract digestibility was significantly (P<0.05) higher in lambs fed R-IV ration than those fed R-I ration. No significant difference in the digestibility of dry matter, ether extract and cell wall constituents was observed among the rations. The digestible crude protein (%) (P<0.01) and metabolizable energy (Mcal/kg) values increased (P>0.0) with increase in level of concentrate in the diet. Negative and lower (P<0.01) nitrogen balance (g/d) was noticed in R-I ration. The N balance linearly increased with increase in level of concentrate supplementation. The study indicated feeding of sole SSBLR silage couldn't meet the nutrient requirements and Supplementation of concentrate mixture (0.75-1.25%) to SSBLR silage improved the nutrient digestibility and nitrogen balance in growing lambs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three iso-nitrogenous complete diets in a roughage concentrate ratio of 50:50 were formulated with ground red gram stalks (RGS) at 30, 40 and 50% level in complete diets and were compared with a complete diet containing 50% sorghum stover as sole conventional roughage source (control diet). These diets were evaluated in 4 adult male graded Murrah buffaloes in a 4x4 Latin square design. In each trial, the buffaloes were fed the respective diets for 30days, followed by 7 days metabolism trial and a switch over period of 10d between each trial. The RGS had 4.11% crude protein (CP), 0.64% ether extract (EE) and 60.4% crude fibre (CF). The dry matter (DM) intake by buffaloes was comparable among all the groups, indicating that the diets containing RGS up to 50% were palatable. The DM, organic matter (OM), CF (P< 0.05), neutral detergent fibre (NDF)(P< 0.05) and cellulose digestibilities in buffaloes fed diets containing up to 40% RGS was similar to those fed control diet, but further increase in proportion of RGS (50%) depressed (P< 0.01) the digestibilities. The digestibility of EE, nitrogen free extract (NFE) and hemicellulose remained comparable among all the diets. The CP digestibility was lower (P< 0.01) in all RGS based diets compared to control diet, resulting in lower (P< 0.01) digestible crude protein (DCP) content in RGS diets. The total digestible nutrient (TDN) content of 30 or 40% RGS based diets was comparable to control diet. The calcium (Ca) balance was comparable but phosphorus (P) balance was lower (P< 0.01) in buffaloes fed 50% RGS diet. The intakes (g/kgW0.75) of DCP and TDN were comparable among the groups and were higher than the standard Kearl (1982) requirements. The results of this study indicated that RGS could be incorporated in complete diets up to 40% level in buffaloes, while incorporation at 50% level depressed the nutrient digestibility and lowered the nutritive value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A metabolism trial was conducted after 30 days of feeding using twelve graded Murrah buffalo bulls (301.96 ± 6.98) to study the effect of incorporation of sun dried Azolla (Azolla pinnata) meal in the concentrate mixture on intake, digestibility of nutrients and on retention of nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus. The DMI (kg / 100 kg BW) was similar between the 2 groups. The average digestibility coefficient of DM, OM, CP, EE, CF, NFE, NDF, ADF, cellulose and hemicellulose decreased (P>0.05) with incorporation of sun dried Azolla meal in the concentrate mixture of buffalo bulls as compared with the control. All the buffalo bulls were in positive N, Ca and P balances. The % DCP (P>0.05) and TDN (P>0.05) content decreased with incorporation of sun dried Azolla (Azolla pinnata) meal in the concentrate mixture compared with the control. It can be concluded that sun dried Azolla meal could replaced about 25 per cent of the total protein in the concentrate mixture of graded Murrah buffalo bulls for maintenance without any adverse effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]