Effect of feeding tree forages on productive performances on growing sheep

Md Azharul Islam Talukder,Md Ershaduzzaman,Md Yousuf Ali,Md Zillur Rahman,Most Sumona Akter

doi:10.3329/ajmbr.v1i3.26489

Md Azharul Islam Talukder, Md Ershaduzzaman + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3329/ajmbr.v1i3.26489

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Abstract

A research work was undertaken to evaluate the feeding effect of tree forages on performance of growing sheep. Twenty growing sheep (in 4 groups) were fed three different tree forage diets. Tree forages Melia azardirachta, Leucaena leucocephala and Artocarpus heterophyllus were supplied in three treatments except one consisted no tree forages which was considered as control. There were significant (p<0.05) differences among the animal groups in terms of total DM and ME intake, although there were no significant differences in the digestibility of DM, OM, CP and ADF. Feeding of tree forages had significant (p<0.05) effect on live weight gain of sheep. Animals fed with tree forage based diets significantly increased weight gain (60.70 and 50.70 g/d for L. leucocephala and A. heterophyllus, respectively) compared to that (45.66 g/d) of control group fed with silage. Feed conversion efficiency (kg feed/kg gain) also showed that animals fed with tree forage of L. leucocephala and M. azardirachta based diets were having significantly (p<0.05) higher efficiency (11.33 and 11.47, respectively) compared to those of A. heterophyllus and control diet (13.77 and 13.33, respectively). The results of nitrogen balance of M. azardirachta and L. leucocephala tree forage had significantly (p<0.05) positive effect on the nitrogen retention in the body of the animals. Intake of all the tree forages was not similar which indicated that all of them were not accepted to the lamb in same level. So, diets with tree forages of L. leucocephala resulted better in terms of weight gain, digestibility and nitrogen balance compared to A. heterophyllu, M. azardirachta and silage (control).Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. December 2015, 1(3): 648-653

Highlights

Livestock feeding management systems in the world is changing in response to population pressure, resource and marketing opportunities
All the tree forages used in the experiment contained crude protein ranging from 12.83 to 24.70
In the present experiment it was observed that M. azardirachta and L. leucocephala contained more than twice the crude protein (CP) content of silage

Summary

Introduction

Livestock feeding management systems in the world is changing in response to population pressure, resource and marketing opportunities. The neem tree has several uses and can be grown under reforestation and social foresting programmes (Ramesh, 2000). It prefers well drained deep soil, sandy loams with ground water at 3.048 metre dept or more. The tree has the advantage of growing on marginal lands, where it will not compete with food crops (Sokumbi et al, 2000) Tree legume such as leucaena has great potential as sources of legume fodder, as they are high-yielding perennials and possess deep-rooted systems that may have access to ground water and nutrients that may not be available to smaller leguminous plants (Nguyen Thi Mui et al, 2001). The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of feeding different tree forages on intake and daily weight change in silage based diet for growing sheep under intensive condition

Materials and Methods

Results and Discussion

Conclusions