Page 119 - Agroforestry system - book inner (final corrected) - 9.-3-21_Neat

National level e-symposium on “Agroforestry system for augmenting livestock
productivity and empowering resource poor rural farmers”

Materials and methods

A growth trial was carried out in kids to ascertain the impact of feeding Total Mixed Ration as against
feeding of conventional fodders + concentrate feed on growth parameters. The experiment was carried out
at Sheep and Goat Unit, Post Graduate Research Institute in Animal Sciences, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and
Animal Sciences University. Twelve Boer cross bred, just weaned kids, 3 months of age, having a mean
body weight 12.0 kg were selected for the experiment. There were eight female and four male kids among
the selected kids. The kids were randomly distributed into two treatments (T and T ) in such a manner that
1
2
each treatment group had 6 animals (two male and four female) and the mean body weight of kids in both the
groups showed no significant variation. The kids of each group were housed in individual pens. Floor space,
feeder space and watering space was provided as per standard specification. All the animals were dewormed
and dipped prior to the start of the experiment. Each animal was offered with rations of the respective group.
The experiment was for a period of 60 days. Experimental rations were formulated with 60 per cent roughage
(75 % non legume and 25 % legume) and 40 per cent concentrate, to meet out the DCP requirement of 37 g/
day and TDN requirement of 355 g/day. Feeding regimen of the trial for the control group is Bajra Napier
fodder (45 per cent) + tree leaves (Leucaena leucocephala and Gliricidia sepium) 15 per cent + concentrate
feed (40 per cent) whereas for the treatment group is Total mixed ration prepared using fodder sorghum Co 31
(45 per cent) + fodder cowpea Co (FC) 8 (15 per cent) + concentrate feed (40 per cent). The fodders fodder
sorghum Co 31 and fodder cowpea Co (FC) 8 were converted into hay for preparing total mixed ration with
concentrate feed. Nutrient composition of feed ingredients was studied as per AOAC (2019). The DCP and
TDN of the control group Vs treatment group was 9.12% Vs 9.18 % and 70.35 % and 70.21%.
Parameters recorded were feed offered and leftover on daily basis to document dry matter intake, weight
gain at fortnightly intervals to document average daily gain using these data the feed conversion ratio was
calculated by dividing total dry matter intake by overall weight gain. During the last week of the trial a
digestibility trial was conducted with five days collection period to determine the digestibility of nutrients of
rations offered to the animals.

Results and discussion
The growth parameters of kids influenced by feeding of conventional fodder Vs Total Mixed Ration is
presented in table 1.

Table 1: Growth parameters of kids influenced by feeding conventional fodder Vs
Total Mixed Ration (Mean* ± SE)
Parameters Conventional fodders Total Mixed Ration
Initial body weight (kg) NS 12.01 ± 0.67 12.03 ± 0.28

Final body weight (kg) NS 15.03 ± 0.60 14.93 ± 0.60
Gain in body weight (kg) NS 3.01 ± 0.16 2.90 ± 0.31

Average daily gain (g) NS 50.27 ± 2.60 48.33 ± 5.25
Dry matter intake % body weight 4.57 4.18

100 Institute of Animal Nutrition, Centre for Animal Production Studies, TANUVAS
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development