Effect of substitution of groundnut with high glucosinolate mustard (Brassica juncea) meal on nutrient utilization, growth, vital organ weight and blood composition of lambs

Abstract Twenty-four 14-day-old weaner Avivastra (Russian Merino×Nali) male lambs were maintained for 180 days on ad libidum Cenchrus ( Cenchrus ciliaris ) hay and concentrate mixture (CM) contained groundnut meal (control) and mustard meal (MM group) as major protein source. The two CMs were isonitrogenous (21% CP) and isocaloric (2.78 Mcal ME kg −1 DM), while, CM fed to MM group contained 24.6 mg glucosinolates g −1 DM. Digestibility of nutrients was similar ( P >0.05) in the two groups except for CP and hemicellulose, which was higher ( P P P −1  BW) and glucosinolate intakes were higher in MM fed group, whereas DCP and ME intakes were similar ( P >0.05) in the two groups. Average daily gain (ADG) was, however, 22% higher ( P P −1 in MM fed group, while it was not detected in control group. Thyroid weight was higher ( P P