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This study was planned to evaluate the effects of different dietary levels of concentrate and roughage supplementation on feed intake, growth performance and nutrient digestibility in Thalli lambs. Twenty-one male lambs, weighing an average of 16.15 ± 2.33 kg, were allotted to three treatments in such a way that each treatment had seven lambs. Experimental lambs were arranged in a randomized complete block design and blocking was done on the basis of initial body weight. Lambs were confined in individual cages and stall-fed experimental diets twice daily. One week was given as adaptation period to experimental diets. The duration of trial was 12 weeks. Experimental treatments were: T1 = 100% hay; T2 = 80% hay + 20% concentrate and T3 = 60% hay + 40% concentrate. Growth performance parameters were analyzed by ANOVA using GLM procedure of Minitab and mean values were compared using Tukey's test. Results indicated that body weight gain and daily dry matter intake increased linearly (P<0.05) with an increase in concentrate percentage from 0 to 40% in the rations. Similarly, feed conversion ratio was significant among the treatments (P<0.05). Lambs fed hay supplemented with concentrate @ 20% had better feed conversion ratio as compared to other treatments. Experimental treatments had no effect (P>0.05) on feed intake, water intake and body condition score. The digestibility of dry matter and acid detergent fiber were increased as the level of concentrate was increased in the diet (P<0.05) whereas crude protein, crude fiber and neutral detergent fiber digestibility were not affected by the treatments (P>0.05). Based on the findings of the current study it is concluded that increasing concentrate ratio @ 40% in the diet of lambs containing Lucerne hay as forage source increased body weight gain, daily dry matter intake, dry matter and acid detergent fiber digestibility. However, concentrate ratio @ 20% in the diet of lambs showed better feed conversion ratio in Thalli lambs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current work was planned to explore the effect of a natural emulsifier (Lysophospholipid) supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood serum, meat quality, carcass characters and economics in broilers. Total research period was divided in starter, grower and finisher phases. A total of 1530, day old Ross-308 chicks were purchased from local hatchery and divided into five treatments in such a way that each treatment had six replicates and each replicate had fifty-one birds. Treatments were (1) diet with emulsifier during overall (0-35 days) period; (2) diet without emulsifier during overall (0-35 days) period; (3) diet with emulsifier during starter (0-10 days) phase only; (4) diet with emulsifier during grower (11-25 days) phase only; (5) diet with emulsifier during finisher (26-35 days) phase only. Results explored that feed intake was not affected (P>0.05) by any dietary treatment in starter and finisher phase. However, feed intake decreased in broilers fed emulsifier supplemented diet during grower phase only (P<0.05). Diets with emulsifier addition throughout life and during finisher phase only showed highest (P<0.05) body weight and better feed conversion ratio. At day 35th % nutrient digestibility (dry matter, crude protein and ether extract) was improved by emulsifier addition in diet (P<0.05). Total cholesterol and triglycerides in blood serum were not affected (P>0.05) by all dietary treatments but glucose was highest (P<0.05) in group fed diet without emulsifier during all phases. Relative organs weight like liver, heart, spleen and gizzard were not affected (P>0.05) by all dietary treatments while, dressing (%) and meat quality were better (P<0.05) by supplementation of emulsifier in diet during finisher phase and overall period. Profit percentage and feed economic efficiency per bird were increased (P<0.05) by emulsifier supplementation throughout the life of broilers and during finisher phase only. Based on the findings of current study it is recommended that natural emulsifier should be added in broilers diet during finisher phase for better growth performance, meat quality, digestibility, economics and dressing percentage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to evaluate the molasses and bacterial inoculant effects on ensiled corn stover chemical composition, physical characteristics, aerobic stability and total microbial cell count. Corn stover (CS) was ensiled into 24 laboratory silos with molasses or without molasses (3 and 0%), with inoculant (10 and 0 ml/kg of CS) and air ingression (air ingressed or no air ingressed) for 60 days. On day 30 of ensiling, air ingressed treatments were exposed to air. A significant interaction was observed among molasses, inoculant and air ingressed for chemical composition of ensiled CS (P<0.05). Highest crude protein contents were present in non-air ingressed, molasses, without inoculant treated ensiled CS (P<0.05). The molasses and inoculant interaction showed lowest neutral detergent fibre contents in molasses and inoculant treated CS (P<0.05). The lowest acid detergent fibre contents were found in molasses treated CS compared to CS without molasses treatment (P<0.05). The molasses, inoculant and air ingressed interaction showed the lowest ash contents in air ingressed CS ensiled with inoculant and without molasses (P<0.05). While, this interaction showed highest ash contents by ensiled CS treated with molasses, without inoculant and air ingressed (P<0.05). The highest total lactobacillus cell load was expressed by Molasses with inoculant with air ingression (MIA), MA (Molasses with air ingression) treatments than MN (Molasses with non-air ingression), IN (Inoculant with non-air ingression), IA (Inoculant with air ingression), N (non-air ingression), A (air ingression) and MIN (Molasses with inoculant with non-air ingression) treatments (P<0.05). Lowest cell count of E.coli was expressed by IN treatments than MN, MA, MIA, IA, N, A and MIN treatments (P<0.05). Based on findings, it is concluded that bacterial inoculants (L. buchneri 40788 and L. plantarum MTD-1) along with molasses supplementation improves the physical characteristics, nutritional profile and aerobic stability of ensiled CS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]