A. Santra

Influence of ciliate protozoa on biochemical changes and hydrolytic enzyme profile in the rumen ecosystem

Aims: To assess the effect of presence or absence of rumen protozoa on fermentation characteristics and enzyme profile in growing lambs.

Effect of dietary sodium bicarbonate supplementation on fermentation characteristics and ciliate protozoal population in rumen of lambs

Effects of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) inclusion on rumen fermentation characteristics and ciliate protozoal population in high concentrate-fed lambs were studied. Twenty-four weaner (90 days old) Malpura lambs divided into four equal groups (G1, G2, G3 and G4) were fed basal (25:75 roughage and concentrate) diet (G1) or basal diet supplemented with 0.75% (G2), 1.50% (G3) and 2.25% (G4) sodium bicarbonate for 90 days. Daily dry matter (DM) intake and digestibility of organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), gross energy and plane of nutrition were similar in all the groups while cellulose digestibility was higher in G4 than in G2 and G1. Ruminal pH increased ( P< 0.05) with increasing levels of dietary sodium bicarbonate. Concentrations of total volatile fatty acids (TVFA), total nitrogen and trichloroacetic acid-precipitable nitrogen (TCA-ppt.-N) were higher while ammonia nitrogen was lower in the rumen fluid of G4 and G3 than in G2 and G1. The number of total protozoa, Isotricha, Dasytricha, large and small spirotrichs were higher ( P< 0.01) in the rumen of G4 and G3 than in G2 and G1. Total live weight gain and average daily gain were also higher in lambs supplemented with sodium bicarbonate. It is concluded that sodium bicarbonate inclusion at the rate of 1.50% of total ration increased cellulose digestibility, ciliate protozoal number, ruminal pH and total nitrogen concentration resulting in improved growth of lambs maintained on high concentrate diet.

Effect of protein levels in creep mixture on nutrient utilization and growth performance of pre-weaner lambs

Abstract The pre-weaning protein requirement for growing lambs was assessed in hot semi-arid environment by maintaining them on ad libitum creep mixture having 18% (G1), 22% (G2) and 27% (G3) CP in addition to free suckling and free choice cowpea hay. Birth weight of males was higher (p

Growth performance of Malpura and crossbred lambs under intensive feeding

Growth performance, feed conversion efficiency and nutrient utilization of mutton synthetic, selected and randombred Malpura populations of lambs (60days) were evaluated. The mutton synthetic lambs reached the 25kg body weight in 73days of intensive feeding while the selected and randombred Malpura populations of lambs reached the same weight in 91 and 136days, respectively (P<0.01). The fitted growth curve confirmed the mutton synthetic lambs grew rapidly and were more efficient in feed conversion (P<0.01) followed by selected and randombred Malpura lambs. Dry matter intake and nutrient utilization was similar in mutton synthetic and selected Malpura lambs and required 75g DM, 5.5g DCP and 42.1g TDN/kg W(0.75) for average daily gain of 148g. The lambs were in positive N, Ca and P balance whereas their N retention was lower (25%). It is concluded from this preliminary study that growth response and feed conversion efficiency were higher in mutton synthetic than selected Malpura lambs and lower in randombred Malpura lambs.

Pre-weaning growth response of lambs fed creep mixtures with varying levels of energy and protein

The pre-weaning nutrient requirements for growth of lambs were assessed by feeding them on ad libitum creep mixtures with free suckling and free choice of Pala (Z. nummularia) leaves. Thirty six lambs (15 days old) were divided into three equal groups and fed creep mixtures containing high (HEHP), medium (MEMP) and low (LELP) levels of digestible energy and protein. A cafeteria system of feeding management was used. The ratio of creep mixture, pala leaf and milk in the total DMI of HEHP lambs was 74.9:11.4:13.7. The corresponding ratios in DMI were 73.8:14.3:11.8 and 90.3:2.1:7.6 in MEMP and LELP regimens. Digestibility of DM, OM and CP was higher (P<0.01) in HEHP than MEMP and LELP. Digestibility of NDF and ADF was also significantly (P<0.01) higher in HEHP than MEMP and LELP. However, digestibility of cellulose and hemicellulose were higher (P<0.01) in LELP than other two groups. The lambs in all the three groups were in positive N balance while per cent N retention was lower (P<0.01) in LELP (52.6%) compared to MEMP (61.5%) and HEHP (70.4%). The lambs in HEHP, MEMP and LELP consumed 58.2, 51.6 and 83.5g DM, 10.4, 7.4 and 8.0g DCP and 250.4, 163.2 and 228.9kcal DE/kgW(0.75)/day amounting to an average of 43g DCP/Mcal DE consumed/day and had 124, 108 and 124g ADG, respectively. It is concluded from the study that ad libitum LELP creep mixture with free suckling and free choice pala (Z. nummularia) leaves was adequate to meet the growth requirement for 124g pre-weaning average daily gain.