Vol. 9, Issue 1, Part B (2024)

Author(s): Hayavadana GR, Preetam Sangam, Jaishankar N, Chethan KP, Shivakumar MC, Ramachandra B, Guruprasad R and Hemanth Gowda K

Abstract: Twenty sheep lambs of around 3 to 7 months of age with an average body weight of 10.91kg were selected and divided into four groups of five replicates each. Each group was randomly allotted to one of the four dietary treatments. This pilot study was carried out to assess the feed intake of Hassan sheep Lambs when fed with green fodder COFS 29 as a sole roughage source and concentrate separately to meet the requirements according to ICAR nutrient requirements 2013. COFS-29 was freshly chopped daily and was fed to animals ad libitum. The daily allowance of 50g concentrate feed mixture was weighed and offered twice a day at 12.00 AM and 4.00 PM. Roughage and concentrate intake was recorded and total matter intake was calculated and presented per kg metabolic body weight and percent body weight. Daily roughage dry matter intake was 456.42 g, which was 4.18 percent body weight and 76.03g per kg metabolic body weight. Similarly the concentrate dry matter intake was 43.89 g per day, 0.4 percent body weight and 7.31 g per kg metabolic body weight. The total dry matter intake was 500.30g per day, 4.59 percent body weight and 83.34 g per kg metabolic body weight was observed. The concentrate feed was restricted during the pilot study to maximize the roughage dry matter intake. The nutrients consumed could meet the maintenance requirement. Hence, concluded that the CoFS-29 fodder can be used as a sole roughage source to conduct further studies on assessment of growth potentiality of Hassan Sheep lambs.