Effect of Feeding Maize (Zea mays) Husk and Cob Based Complete Feed Block on Feed Intake, Nutrient Utilization and Growth in Mandya Sheep

Abstract

The present study was conducted to compare the conventional finger millet (Eleucine coracana) straw
based complete feed block (CFB) with maize (Zea mays) husk and cob based complete feed block on the growth
performance of lambs. Twenty Mandya/Bannur lambs of about 4 to 6 months of age with body weight ranging
from 8 to 14 kg were divided into two groups of ten each in a completely randomized design. The CFB with
finger millet straw was fed to group T1 and maize husk and cob was fed in group T2. A six days digestion trial was
conducted at the end of the experiment. Maize husk and cob was comparable with finger millet straw except for
lower CP (2.82 vs. 5.98). Cumulative gas (mL/200 mg DM/24 h) production and energy density (ME MJ/kg DM)
was higher in maize husk and cob as compared to finger millet straw (35.83 vs. 32.66; 7.23 vs. 6.99). There was no
significant difference in DMI between the groups. A significant difference was observed in OM, NDF and ADF
intake between the groups. The ADG (g) and FCR (g DMI/g body weight gain) were also similar in both the
groups. The digestibility of nutrients was comparable between the groups. It could be concluded that the maize
husk and cob can be utilized as a roughage component of complete feed block for feeding small ruminants
under intensive production system.