Replacing concentrate with pea (Pisum sativum) straw in sheep feeding: Effect on rumen fermentation, microbial nitrogen synthesis and nutrient utilization

R S  BHATT; SROBANA  SARKAR; LALIT  SONI; ARUN  KUMAR

doi:10.56093/ijans.v96i6.170249

Authors

R S BHATT ICAR-Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar 304 501 Rajasthan India
SROBANA SARKAR ICAR-Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar 304 501 Rajasthan India
LALIT SONI ICAR-Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar 304 501 Rajasthan India
ARUN KUMAR ICAR-Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar 304 501 Rajasthan India

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijans.v96i6.170249

Keywords:

Cenchrus hay, Microbial nitrogen, Nutrient utilization, Pea straw, Rumen fermentation

Abstract

A feeding trial was conducted in ewes for a period of 60 days during extreme summer months to envisage the effect of partial replacement of concentrate with pea straw on rumen fermentation, microbial nitrogen synthesis and nutrient utilization. Thirty adult ewes of Malpura breed were randomly divided in three groups of 10 each on the basis of body weight. Ewes were fed ad libitum chaffed cenchrus hay, mixture of chaffed cenchrus hay plus pea straw (1:1 ratio) and exclusively pea straw, in group 1 (Control), 2 (Test 1) and 3 (Test 2), respectively. Ewes in control group were supplemented with concentrate mixture @ 300 g/ewe/day, whereas quantity of concentrate mixture was reduced to 250 and 200 g /ewe/day in Test 1 and Test 2 group, respectively. Total dry matter intake was similar in all the groups whereas digestible crude protein and ME intake was higher (P < 0.05) in Test 1 and Test 2 than Control which was due to higher (P<0.05) digestibility of DM, OM and CP in these groups. Nitrogen balance as percent of intake was highest in Test 2 followed by Test 1 and Control. Higher (P<0.05) concentration of total nitrogen and TVFA along with higher propionic acid proportion in Test 2 group revealed favorable rumen fermentation with pea straw however, microbial nitrogen synthesis was lowered in this group. It may be concluded that adding pea straw, either alone or in conjunction with cenchrus grass hay, can replace concentrate feeding by 1/3^rd in adult ewes fed at maintenance level.

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