Page 16 - Effects of dried citrus pulp on nutrient intake, nitrogen balance and growth performance in Lohi lambs

ewes. Ewes were fed 7.5, 15, 22.5, 30, 37.5 and 45% DCP on DM basis along with hay.
Results revealed higher nutrient intake in ewes fed 30% DCP of dietary DM than those

offered 7.5, 15, 22.5, 37.5 and 45% DCP. Similarly, Brown and Johnson (1991) also
reported significant effects of DCP on nutrient intake in steers.

Ben-Ghedalia et al. (1989) examined the effect of DCP on nutrient intake in rams.

Rams were fed two diets A and B. As the diet “A” had 84.4% dried citrus pulp on DM basis
whereas diet “B” had 76.5% barley grains along with 20.4% dried citrus pulp on DM basis.

Results exposed that animals fed diet “A” had better nutrient intake than those fed diet “B”.

Highfill et al. (1987) observed the effect of DCP on nutrient intake in non-lactating
Angus cows. There were four non-lactating ruminally cannulated Angus cows having

weight ranging from 375-500 kg. In contrast to control diet, three types of concentrate diets
i.e. soya hulls, corn gluten feed and DCP were used in the experiment. They offered total

mixed ration (TMR) containing ground fescue hay at a level of 750 g/kg DM and
concentrate at a level of 250 g/kg DM. Results revealed that nutrient intake was higher in

cows supplemented with TMR having DCP than those supplemented TMR containing soya

hulls and corn gluten feed.

Sudweeks (1977) performed three experiments to study the effect of DCP on

nutrient intake in sheep. In each experiment, 10, 40 and 70% of DM, levels of corn, DCP
and soya bean mill were fed to sheep along with a single forage source (corn silage,

sorghum silage and Bermuda grass hay, respectively). Animals were also supplemented

with soya bean meal, di calcium phosphate and salt to meet their maintenance requirements.
It was observed that DMI was increased with increasing the levels of each of the

concentrate energy source.

In contrary to the above given research, some of the scientists reported a decreased

nutrient intake with inclusion of DCP in diet. Gholizadeh and Naserian (2010) executed an

experiment to study the effect of DCP in replacement of barley grains on DMI in Saanen
kids. Barley grains were replaced by DCP at 7, 14, and 70% of the energy concentrate and

were fed to twelve female Saanen kids (88 days age, mean average weight of 7 kg). Results
revealed that DMI decreased with increasing levels of DCP. This might be due to variation

in rumen development, improper processing or low palatability of DCP.

An in vivo experiment was conducted by Sparkes et al. (2010) to study the effect of

replacing lucerne hay with fresh citrus pulp and its effect on nutrient intake in ewes. There

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