Effect of feeding sorghum straw based complete rations with different roughage to concentrate ratio on dry matter intake, nutrient utilization, and nitrogen balance in Nellore ram lambs

Abstract

An experiment was conducted by feeding sorghum straw (Sorghum bicolor) based complete rations at roughage concentrate ratio 70:30 (CR-I), 60:40 (CR-II), 50:50 (CR-III), and 40:60 (CR-IV) for 180 days to find out suitable ratio of sorghum straw in the complete ration (mash form) on nutrient utilization and nitrogen balance in Nellore ram lambs. The DMI (g/day) increased significantly (P < 0.05) as level of concentrate increased in complete rations. No significant difference was found in digestibilities of proximate nutrients. However, CP digestibility was higher either significantly or nonsignificantly by 2.12, 5.50, and 9.36 %, respectively, in lambs fed with CR-II (P > 0.05), CR-III (P > 0.05), and CR-IV (P < 0.05) rations in comparison to lambs fed with CR-I ration. Furthermore, CP digestibility was higher by 7.09 and 3.66 % in lambs fed with CR-IV ration than those fed with CR-II (P < 0.05) and CR-III (P > 0.05) ration. The average CWC digestibility coefficients were comparable among four rations. The N intake (g/day) was significantly (P < 0.01) different and progressively increased by 31.46, 48.69, and 82.86 % in ram lambs fed with CR-II, CR-III, and CR-IV rations, respectively, in comparison to CR-I ration. The N balance (g/day) was higher either significantly or nonsignificantly by 34.46 (P > 0.05), 133.46 (P < 0.01), and 198.87 % (P < 0.01) with CR-II, CR-III, and CR-IV rations, respectively, in comparison to CR-I ration. Based on results, it is inferred that the level of sorghum straw in complete ration had no effect on digestibility of nutrients barring crude protein in Nellore ram lambs.

Nutritional Studies on Compensatory Growth Phenomenon in Fattening Buffalo Calves

“…In contrast, the depression in feed conversion with calves fed restricted ration (T4) could be attributed to the higher CF content and lower digestibility of OM than those fed the other restricted rations and control one. These findings are in agreement with those obtained by Sayed (2009), Gaafar et al (2009), Neto et al (2011, Adeleye et al (2011), Abbasi et al (2012) and Malisetty et al (2014), who concluded that feed conversion improved with increasing energy level in the diets. Results here are in contrary with those obtained by Sami et al (2016) who found that Najdi lambs fed restricted ration (20% of control ration) significantly (P<0.05) higher than those fed restricted ration (40% of control group), but no significant different with lambs fed ad libtium (control ration).…”

“…Also, data in Table 1 showed that DM, OM, CP, EE and NFE contents decreased and CF and ash contents increased with decreasing the levels of concentrate mixture in all restricted rations (T2, T3 and T4) than that of control ration (T1, unrestricted ration). The Results here are similar with those reported by (Mostafa et al, 1993, Gaafar et al, 2009, Mehrez et al, 2001and El-Ashry et al, 2011and Malisetty et al, 2014 who concluded that increasing CFM levels in the rations led to an increase in OM, CP and NFE contents with decrease CF content.…”

“…Also, during the restricted period, Adeleye et al (2011) found that DMI was significantly (P<0.05) higher with rams fed grass and concentrate supplement (control one) compared with rams fed grass alone for one month but non significant differences between rams fed control group or grass alone for two months. Moreover, Similar trend was observed with increasing the level of energy in the diets with heifer diets (Gaafar et al, 2009 andNeto et al, 2011), with growing lambs (Sowande et al, 2012, Malisetty et al, 2014, Abouheif et al, 2013and Ali et al, 2014. In contrary, some workers indicated that feed intake was inversely related to level of energy in the diet (Hossain et al, 2003, Yagoub and Babiker, 2008and Abbasi et al, 2012.…”

Effect of Dietary Concentrate to Roughage Ratio on Nutrient Digestibility, Rumen Fermentation, Growth Performance and Serum Acute Phase Protein in Growing Buffalo Calves

“…The data in Table (3) indicated that increasing the proportion of concentrate in the diet significantly (p <0.05) increased the digestibility of DM, OM, CP, CF, EE and NFE. Similarly, the percentage of digestible crude protein (DCP), and total digestible nutrients (TDN) were significantly increased in high concentrate diets (A, B and C) in comparison with diet D. This result was coincided with the findings observed by previous investigation carried out by Cantalapiedra-Hijar et al (2009), Saini et al, (2012), Kumari et al, (2012), Ma et al (2014) and Malisetty et al (2014). The decrease in nutrient digestion at 80 % concentrate level may be produced by the inhibition of cellulolytic bacteria growth caused by decreasing the rumen pH under 6.2 (Grant and Mertens, 1992).…”

Effect of Dietary Concentrate to Roughage Ratio on Nutrient Digestibility, Rumen Fermentation, Growth Performance and Serum Acute Phase Protein in Growing Buffalo Calves

“…The data in Table (3) indicated that increasing the proportion of concentrate in the diet significantly (p <0.05) increased the digestibility of DM, OM, CP, CF, EE, and NFE. Similarly, the percentage of digestible crude protein (DCP), and total digestible nutrients (TDN) were significantly increased in high concentrate diets (A, B and C) in comparison with diet D. This result was coincided with the findings observed by previous investigation carried out by Cantalapiedra-Hijar et al (2009), Saini et al (2012), Kumari et al, 2012, Ma et al 2014and Malisetty et al, 2014. The decrease in nutrient digestion at 80 % concentrate level may be produced by the inhibition of cellulolytic bacteria growth caused by decreasing the rumen pH under 6.2 (Grant and Mertens, 1992).…”