Effect of polyethylene glycol-4000 treatment up on nutrient utilization from khejri (Prosopis cineraria) leaves in sheep

Abstract

Four groups of 6 adult fine wool sheep were maintained on ad lib. untreated khejri leaves as sole feed, group 1; water(0.50 litre/kg) treated /chejri leaves, group 2;khejri leaves treated with PEG-4000 (1.5% wt/wt), group 3; and khejri leaves mixed with ground cenchrus hay in 1: 1 ratio plus urea I % by wt, group 4 ; for 3 months in 2 consecutive years. The animals in groups 1 and 2 lost (P<0.01) body weight (-4.56 and -3.72 kg) when compared to group 3 (-0.59 kg), whereas there was a gain in body weight in group 4 (1.66 kg). The digestibility of nutrients for DM, CP and CF was higher in groups 3 and 4 compared to groups 1 and 2. The better nutrient digestibility and N balance in groups 3 and 4 have been reflected into higher (P<0.01) wool yield in these groups (587.5 and 620.83 g) when compared to 1 and 2 groups (444.56 and 439.09 g) and were attributed to the binding of tannins with PEG-4000 in group 3 and dilution of tannins by cenchrus and urea in group 4. In vitro studies also indicated a significant recovery of tannin induced inhibition of digestive enzymes (trypsin, chymotrypsin an a-amylase) by PEG-4000. Blood analysis indicated higher (P<0.05) serum iron concentration in groups 3 and 4 and lower total iron binding capacity in these groups.