Nutrient Utilization and Rumen Fermentation in Jalauni Sheep Fed Sorghum or Sugarcane Fodder Silage Based Diets

Abstract

Twelve Jalauni male sheep (Av. body weight 34.6 kg, around 2-2.4 yr) were randomly assigned into two groups of six animals each. Animals in group G1 were fed sorghum silage ad lib. whereas the animals in group G2 were fed fodder sugarcane silage ad lib. Both the groups were provided 400 g of concentrate mixture daily.
After adaptation period of 30 days, a 6 day metabolism trial was conducted. Before starting the metabolism trial, the rumen liquor samples were collected before feeding from each animal for two consecutive days through stomach tube. The chemical and biochemical characteristics like CP (6.44 and 6.17%), NDF (72.36 and 75.73%), pH (3.85 and. 4.15) and lactic acid (3.78 and 3.56%) contents were comparable between sorghum and fodder
sugarcane silage. DM intake (kg/100 kg BW or g/kg W0.75) was also similar between the groups. Digestibility coefficients (%) of DM, CP and NDF were similar in groups G1 and G2, however, OM digestibility was higher (P<0.05) in group G2 than G1. DCP intake (g/d) was similar in the animals fed either sorghum silage based diet or sugarcane fodder silage based diet. DCP intake was sufficient to support gain of 50 g/d whereas TDN intake in both the groups was sufficient to gain 125 g/d. N balance (g/d) was also similar in both the groups. Rumen microbial population like total protozoa (73.66 vs. 66.33 ×104 /mL) and fungal count (5.57 vs. 3.27 ×104 /mL) were similar in both the groups. Therefore, it could be concluded that fodder sugarcane can be used as an alternate
source of fodder for making good quality silage for sheep without affecting nutrient intake and utilization.