PERFORMANCE OF GROWING LAMBS FED TWO CUTS OF SOME SUMMER GREEN FORAGE MIXTURES OF LEGUMES AND GRASSES

ABSTRACT
The objective of this work was to study cultivation and utilization of three intercropped green
forage mixtures in feeding growing lambs. Eighteen lambs divided into 3 groups (6 each) and
about 20.71 kg live body weight fed 1% of BW concentrate feed mixture (CFM) + green forage
mixtures offered ad lib as Sesbania-Sudan grass (SS) or Cowpea-Millet (CM) or Cowpea-Millet
x Napier grass hybrid (CMN). Three digestibility trials were carried out to evaluate the three
rations using 3 rams for each. Rumen and blood parameters were measured. Growth
performance and feed conversion were determined.
The obtained results showed that Sesbania-Sudan grass mixture had higher DM, CP and NFE %
and lower CF and Ash% than Cowpea-Millet or Cowpea-Millet x Napier grass hybrid mixtures.
The DM intake of the three groups (SS, CM and CMN) as g/kg W0.75 or % BW were nearly
similar. The digestion coefficients of DM, OM, EE and NFE for SS were significantly higher
than for CM and CMN in the 1st cut. In the 2nd cut, the digestion coefficients of OM, CP and
NFE in SS were significantly higher than CM and CMN. The TDN and DCP of SS were
significantly higher than CM and CMN in the two cuts. The differences in ruminal pH values
among the three groups were not significant. Ruminal ammonia-N was significantly higher and
total VFA,s was significantly lower in SS group than CM and CMN groups, while the difference
between CM and CMN were not significant. The maximum values of ammonia-N and total
VFA,s were estimated and shown 4 hrs post feeding. No significant differences among the three
groups for serum total protein, albumin, globulin, urea-N, creatinine, glucose,
Alkalinephosphatase (ALP), GOT and GPT. Average total gain and daily body gain of lambs fed
SS were significantly higher than those fed CM or CMN. The feed conversion as kg DM/kg gain
of SS group was better than CM-or CMN- groups. It could be concluded that the group fed
Sesbania-Sudan grass mixture (SS) was better than other groups.