Effect of dietary utilisation of sugarcane press mud on production performance of Muzaffarnagari lambs

Abstract

Sugarcane press mud (SPM) is one of the potential agro-industrial by-products available in India and research exploring its utilisation in small ruminant nutrition is scanty. In this direction, the present study evaluated the feasibility of dietary incorporation of SPM at different levels in a feeding trial lasting 180 days. A total of 21 Muzaffarnagari ram lambs were randomly distributed into three groups of seven each based on comparable body weight (11.70 ± 0.29 kg) and age (3-5 months) following a completely randomised design. The three dietary treatments were (1) SP (control), concentrate mixture without SPM; (2) SP, concentrate mixture comprising 10% SPM and (3) SP, concentrate mixture comprising 20% SPM on air-dry basis. The experimental lambs were offered weighed quantity of designated isonitrogenous (crude protein = 20.6%) and isoenergetic (metabolisable energy = 12.1 MJ/kg) concentrate mixture (coarse mash) and along with ad libitum wheat straw (threshed to 1-2-cm length) and a 9-day metabolism trial was conducted. Results revealed no significant (P > 0.05) differences in intake and digestibility of nutrients, nitrogen balance, nutritive value of diets, average daily gain, as well as feed conversion ratio among three groups. The serum concentration of triiodothyronine and tetraiodothyronine did not differ due to treatments. Likewise, wool yield and its quality, measured in terms of fibre diameter, medullation percentage and staple length were also comparable irrespective of dietary variation. Furthermore, the cost of concentrate mixture (Rs/day) was lower (P ≤ 0.05) in SP followed by SP as compared to group SP. These findings suggested that SPM could be safely fed up to 20% level in the concentrate mixture for lambs substituting expensive traditional feed ingredients without negatively inflicting the performance of growing lambs.

Sheep fed sugarcane-based diets: Insights into productivity, carcass traits, longissimus muscle, and milk quality - A meta-analysis

“…However, a slight deviation in this trend was noted with sugar processing waste, specifically solid waste from sugarcane, which tended to decrease ADG in Muzaffarnagari lambs at a 20% DM substitution level (Kumar et al 2017). Additionally, there were minor impacts on ADG observed when providing sugarcane top leaves and bagasse in hydrolyzed and silage forms (de Lima et al 2013;Ferreira et al 2014;Dantas Júnior et al 2022;Roba et al 2022).…”

“…The superiority of sugarcane lies in its carbohydrate content, primarily in the form of sucrose, providing easily absorbable energy for animals. Sugarcane is also rich in fiber, which when added to the diet can maintain the rumen health of sheep (de Oliveira et al 2017;Kumar et al 2017). Furthermore, the impact of sugarcane supplementation on sheep productivity and the quality of meat produced is influenced by various factors, including the form of sugarcane added to the feed (for example, whole plant, topmost leaves, bagasse or press residue from sugarcane juice, and sugar refining by-product) and additional pretreatment methods (such as, untreated, hydrolyzed, and ensiled) (Salinas-Chavira et al 2013;Kumar et al 2015;Ribeiro et al 2020).…”

Sugarcane Cell Wall-Associated Defense Responses to Infection by Sporisorium scitamineum

“…hybrids) is a multifunctional crop plant. In addition to sucrose, its by-products generate impact in different sectors of the economy being used as food, fiber, fodder, plastic, and environmentally friendly fuel ( Solomon, 2011 ). Sugarcane smut is a fungal disease that reduces productivity worldwide.…”