Performance of sheep integrated in Bajra- Neem + Gliricidia agri-silvi system

Abstract

Sixteen Madras Red breed ram lambs were divided into 4 groups and fed respectively with ad libitum bajra (Pennisetum glaucum) straw (T1 ), bajra hay (T2 ), bajra straw supplemented with leaves of neem (Azadirachta indica) and Gliricidia sepium in equal proportions (T3 ) and bajra hay supplemented with leaves of neem and G. sepium in equal proportions (T4 ) along with concentrate mixture. The growth rate of lambs in T3 was significantly (P<0.01) higher (59.99 vs. 36.00 g per day) as compared to T1 . The dry matter intakes, digestibility of nutrients were significantly higher when straw was supplemented with tree leaves mixture (T3 ). The results inferred that bajra straw when supplemented with tree leaves mixture could support equal performance to that of sheep fed with bajra hay or bajra hay supplemented with tree leaves mixture