Page 87 - Agroforestry system - book inner (web) - 9-3-21_Neat

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

References

ICAR. 2013. Nutrient composition of Indian feeds and fodders, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New
Delhi, India.

Yadav, A.K., Kumar, A. and Singh, V. 2003. Nutritive evaluation of some native/ fodder plants in the hill and
tarai region of Uttaranchal. Indian J. Anim. Sci. 73(7): 793-797.

S2-2
Assessing the impact of supplemental tree leaves feeding in madras red lambs

J. Ramesh and P. Vasan
Dept. of Animal Nutrition, Madras Veterinary College, Chennai – 600 007
Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS)
E-mail : rameshnutrition@gmail.com

Introduction
Sheep are an important livestock species in India and are primarily reared for their meat and wool. As
per FAO (2012), India has 73 million sheep that play an important role in the livelihood of small and marginal
farmers and landless labourers. The animal husbandry department, Govt of Tamil Nadu is undertaking several
measures for improving the production and productivity of the Sheep and Goat population in the State.
(Policy note 2018-19, DAH). Nutrition plays a key factor in improving the productivity of Indian sheep.
Nutrient deficiency is common in Indian sheep foraging on poor quality pasture. Silvipasture practice of
integrating trees, forage plants and livestock in a mutually beneficial way is becoming popular nowadays
and it provides profitable opportunities for softwood or hardwood timber growers, forest landowners, and
livestock producers. Further intensive management system of rearing is gaining momentum in some parts
of country due to reduction in grazing area. In this background, this research work was carried out to study
the effect of supplementing tree leaves to lambs fed dry fodder based complete feed raised under intensive
management system.

Materials and Methods
A biological trial was designed to assess the impact of supplementing Leucaena leucocephala leaves
on growth performance of Madras red lambs. Twelve numbers of Madras Red lambs (6 months old) were
randomly divided into two treatment groups (T1 and T2) of six lambs each. The initial body weights were
12.97 ± 0.55 and 13.27 ± 0.48 kg for T1 and T2 animals respectively. The experimental complete diet was
prepared using the raw materials viz, Sorghum stover – 60 parts (roughage component), maize – 5 parts;
Groundnut cake – 10 parts; Soyabean cake – 15 parts; Molasses – 4 parts; Deoiled Ricebran – 4 parts; mineral
mixture and salt – 1 part each. The complete diet contained 14% DCP and 60% TDN. The second group was
offered 1h adlibitum feeding of Leucaena leucocephala leaves (pruned from silvipasture component trees).
The feeding experiment was conducted for 90 days.
Results and Discussion

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