Supplementation of Concentrate/Legume Hay with Maize Silage on Nutrient Utilization and Nitrogen Balance in Nellore Ram Lambs

An on-farm experiment was conducted with Nellore ram lambs by feeding intensively for five months period with sole maize silage (R-I), silage + concentrate at 0.5 per cent body weight (R-II), silage + concentrate at 1.0 per cent body weight (R-III), silage + concentrate at 1.5 per cent body weight (R-IV), silage + lucerne hay (R-V) and silage + GN haulms (R-VI) to develop a feeding system based on maize (Zea mays) silage with supplementation of concentrate mixture and or legume hay/straw at appropriate level to study the nutrient utilization and nitrogen metabolism and compared with the performance of ram lambs fed sweet sorghum bagasse based complete diet (R-VII). The DMI (g/d) was significantly (P<0.01) higher by 25.19, 29.74, 34.82, 31.04, 27.6 and 26.56 per cent respectively with R-II, RIII, R-IV, R-V, R-VI and R-VII rations in comparison to R-I ration (sole silage). The DMI (g/d) was almost similar in lambs fed rations R-III, R-V and R-VI. The lowest DMI (g/d) was observed in ram lambs fed R-I ration. The DMI (g/kg w0.75) in ram lambs was also significantly (P<0.01) different among the seven rations and was highest in ration R-III and lowest in ration R-I in comparison to the other rations. Almost similar DMI/kg w0.75 was observed in ram lambs fed rations R-II, R-IV, R-V and R-VI. Mean digestibility coefficients of DM, OM, CP, EE, CF and NFE in ram lambs fed R-I, R-II, R-III, R-IV, R-V, R-VI and R-VII rations were non significantly different among the seven rations. Average NDF, ADF, hemicellulose and cellulose digestibilities were comparable and insignificantly increased as the level of concentrate increased in the ration. The N intake (g/d) was significantly (P<0.01) higher by 41.14, 52.82, 61.87, 51.93, 37.72 and 64.94 per cent, respectively with R-II, R-III, RIV, R-V, R-VI and R-VII rations in comparison to R-I ration. The N out go through faeces and urine in ram lambs was significantly (P<0.01) different among the seven rations. The N balance (g/d) in lambs was either significantly or non significantly higher by 41.24 (>0.05), 62.38 (P>0.05), 76.59 (P<0.01), 73.24 (P<0.01), 56.49 (P>0.05) and 72.99 (P<0.01) per cent, respectively with R-II, R-III, R-IV, R-V, R-VI and R-VII rations in comparison to R-I ration. Based on the results of this study it is concluded that, supplementation of concentrate and or legume hay did not affected the digestibilities of nutrients. However affected the nitrogen utilization in Nellore ram lambs.