Effect of replacement of concentrate mixture with stylo leaf meal on nutrient utilization in ewes.

摘要

15 adult Jalauni ewes (25 kg average body weight) were randomly divided into three groups of five animals each. The animals in the control group (T1) were fed with diet consisting of natural grass hay and concentrate mixture, while the CP of concentrate mixture was replaced with stylo leaf meal (SLM) by 50 and 100% for T2 and T3, respectively. Total VFA concentration was significantly higher in T1 and T2 than T3. Ammonia N concentration was significantly higher in T1, followed by T2. Digestibility coefficients (%) of DM, OM, NDF and NFE were significantly higher in T2 than T1 or T3. DCP intake was sufficient for maintenance, however, the TDN intake was 50% higher than maintenance in all groups. Blood glucose, protein and urea N were within the normal physiological range in all groups.