Effect of supplementation of berseem hay meal as replacer of mustard cake protein on nutrient intake, utilization and growth performance in Jalauni lambs

Abstract

Berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum) hay meal (BHM) as a replacement for mustard cake (MSC) in the ration of growing Jalauni lambs was studied. About 15 Jalauni male lambs (23.25 ± 1.2 kg) were randomly distributed into three groups of five each in an experiment based on a randomized block design and were randomly assigned to one of the three dietary treatments. The animals were fed control concentrate mixture (GI) or concentrate mixtures in which 60% N of mustard cake was replaced with BHM containing 0.75% NPN (GII) or 1.0% NPN (GIII) making them iso-nitrogenous and iso-caloric. Gram straw (GS) was offered ad libitum to all the animals. Total dry matter intake (DMI) was comparable among the groups. Digestibility of nutrients, namely DM, organic matter (OM), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) were non-significantly different among the groups. However, crude protein (CP) digestibility was higher in GI or GII than GIII. Rumen fermentation was not affected due to the incorporation of BHM as a replacer of mustard cake in the diet. N balance was also comparable. However, N retention as % of N absorbed was significantly (p <0.05) lower in GIII as compared to GI or GII. Nutrient content in terms of TDN or ME was similar among the experimental diets. However, DCP% was higher in GI or GII than GIII. Cost per kg live weight gain was significantly (p <0.05) lower in BHM-incorporated diets (GII or GIII) than in the control diet (GI). It was concluded that BHM can be incorporated into the diet of growing Jalauni lambs as a replacer of mustard cake for economical livestock production.