Growth performance of native and crossbred lambs on farmer's field.

摘要

Ten crossbred and 10 native non-descript weaner lambs, 90 days of age, were fed intensively on a composite ration (50% Khejri leaves, 33% barley, 14% GN cake, 2% mineral mixture and 1% salt) for 90 days. Average initial weight, final weight and daily gain (ADG) of native and crossbred lambs were 13.1 and 13.8 kg, 21.3 and 24.2 kg and 91 and 115 g respectively. Total feed consumption (kg/head) of native (99.8) and crossbred (101.7) lambs was similar resulting in better feed conversion efficiency incrossbred (10.2%) than native (8.2%) lambs. However, protein and energy efficiency of gain was higher in native than crossbred lambs. The native and crossbred lambs consumed 119.8 and 120.9 g DM; 14.9 and 12.2 g DCP; and 75.1 and 58.8 g TDN/kg W0.75. Feed cost/kg gain in body weight was Rs. 38 and 31, respectively, in native and crossbred lambs. Total investment, which included the purchase of weaner lambs and feed cost in raising 20 lambs to finisher stage, was Rs. 9516.80, while sale proceeds from finisher lambs and manure was Rs. 13thin500.00 thus providing a net return of Rs. 3982 over 3 months.