Aim: The
main intension of this research work is to develop a feeding system for growing
Nellore ram lambs by feeding maize silage based rations supplemented with
concentrate and or legume hay at certain levels to investigate the growth rate.
Materials and Methods: Experimental animals (Nellore ram lambs) were
purchased from local sandy and maize silage was prepared at village by using
silos (9''L X 9''W X 8''D) and concentrate mixture was prepared at feed mill
located at department by using locally available ingredients. Animals were
housed in well ventilated sheds and were dewormed and vaccinated against
diseases. Fortnightly body weights were taken by using spring balance and
calculated the total weight gain and ADG. The experimental animals were divided
into seven groups based on their body weight to contain six in each and were fed
intensively for five months with sole maize silage (R-I), silage + concentrate
at 0.5 per cent body weight (R-II), silage + concentrate at 1.0 per cent body
weight (R-III), silage + concentrate at 1.5 per cent body weight (R-IV), silage
+ lucerne hay (R-V) and silage + GN haulms (R-VI) and sweet sorghum bagasse
based complete diet (R-VII) to study the growth rate. Results:
Significantly (P<0.01) increase in ADG was observed in ram lambs fed R-IV ration
was 16.58, 20.49, 24.10, 29.74, 38.28 and 62.01 per cent, respectively in
comparison to those fed R-VII, R-V, R-III, R-VI, R-II and R-I rations. Almost
similar ADG was noticed in lambs fed R-III, R-V and R-VII rations and the
supplementation of concentrate at 0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5% of body weight plus maize
silage ad lib has increased the growth/gain in ram lambs by 62.48, 99.81 and
163.25 per cent, respectively in comparison to sole silage feeding. Similarly,
supplementation of lucerne hay and groundnut haulms with maize silage has
increased the weight gain by 109.31 and 84.97 per cent, respectively in
comparison to sole maize silage fed animals. Sole sweet sorghum bagasse (SSB)
based complete ration (50:50) fed lambs (R-VII ration) showed the ADG almost
similar to those animals fed lucerne hay plus maize silage ad lib.
Conclusions: Based on the results of this study, it is concluded that, maize
silage can be supplemented either with lucerne hay, groundnut haulms (to meet
25% of DM requirement) or concentrate mixture at 1.5% of body weight for
obtaining optimum growth rate in Nellore ram lambs.
Keywords: growth
rate, legume hay, maize silage, Nellore ram lambs
