CORN STEEP LIQUOR, A POTENTIAL SUBSTITUTE OF UREA FOR GROWING LAMBS

ABSTRACT
The study was aimed to evaluate corn steep liquor (CSL), a by- product of corn
starch processing, as a potential substitute of urea and its influence on nutrients intake,
digestibilities and economics of weight gain for growing lambs. Five experimental
diets, CSL0, CSL20, CSL40, CSL60 & CSL80, were formulated to replace urea by
CSL at the rates of 0, 20, 40, 60 and 80% on the basis of N supply, respectively. Fifty
growing lambs were divided into 5 groups of 10 animals each in a randomized
complete block design. Maximum and minimum dry matter (DM) intakes were
recorded for lambs fed diets containing highest (CSL80) and null (CSL0) concentration
of CSL, respectively. Crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral
detergent fiber (NDF) intakes also followed the same trend. Digestibilities of DM, CP,
NDF and ADF increased with ascending replacement of CSL to urea. Lambs fed CSL
gained higher weight than those fed CSL0 diet. Maximum weight gain was recorded for
lambs fed diet containing maximum concentration of CSL. Cost of feed per Kg live
weight produced was slightly decreased if not being similar due to ascending
replacement with CSL. However, feed conversion ratio showed the best value with
CSL80, followed by CSL60 and CSL40 while the poorest with CSL0 and CSL10 (P <
0.05). The findings of the present study indicated significant increase in nutrients intake
and weight gain without any adverse effects on growth performance of lambs when
CSL was used up to 80% on N basis as replacement of urea.