Nutrient Utilization in Sheep Fed Diet Containing Different Proportion of Grass, Legume and Top Feed

Thirty female Jalauni sheep (25.33 kg b.wt.) randomly divided into 6 groups of 5 each, were maintained for 30 days on (i) natural grass (NG), (ii) Cenchrus ciliaris (CC), (iii) Stylosanthes hamata (SH), (iv) C. ciliaris and S. hamata (50: 50; CS), (v) C. ciliaris, S. hamata and Leucaena leucocephala (40: 40: 20; CSL), and C. ciliaris, S. hamata, Leucaena leucocephala and Albizia lebbek (40: 40: 10: 10; CSLA) respectively. Different proportion of grass, legume and top feed were mixed on dry matter basis. Nutrient contents in terms of CP, EE, Ca and P were maximum in SH than other groups. Supplementation of different levels of legumes and top feeds increased DM, DCP and TDN intake as well as digestibility of DM, OM and CP of pasture in CS, CSL and CSLA. All experimental animals were on positive N, Ca and P balances being maximum in SH and minimum in NG. Legume and top feed supplementation increased the retention of N Ca and P in different groups. Thus supplementation of legume and top feed to cenchrus based diet improve the nutrient intake and their utilization in sheep.