Page 54 - Effects of dried citrus pulp on nutrient intake, nitrogen balance and growth performance in Lohi lambs
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digestibility (72.40, 72.35, 71.26 and 71.22%) was found with an increase in DCP level
(10, 20, 30 and 40%) in diet (Table 4.3).
A non-significant effect was observed on CP digestibility with various levels of
DCP in diets. The LDCP diet had 70.10%, MDCP diet 69.16%, HDCP diet 68.90% and
VHDCP diet had 67.55% digestibility (Table 4.3). The NDF digestibility was 49.32, 48.97,
48.74 and 47.27% in LDCP, MDCP, HDCP and VHDCP diets, respectively (Table 4.3).
Digestibility of ADF was not significantly affected by increasing levels of DCP in diet. It
was 46.32, 48.97, 48.74 and 47.27% in lambs fed LDCP, MDCP, HDCP and VHDCP diets,
respectively (Table 4.3).
Nitrogen Metabolism
Various levels of DCP had non-significant effect on nitrogen intake although, a
slight increase (30.07 to 30.62 g/day) on intake was observed as the level of DCP was
increased from 10 to 40% in the diet (Table 4.4). Nitrogen in fecal excretion was non-
significantly (P>0.05) different in various treatments of DCP. It was 8.97 g in LDCP diet,
9.30 g in MDCP diet 9.53 g in HDCP and 9.93 kg in VHDCP diet (Table 4.4). Urinary
excretion of nitrogen in lambs fed various levels of DCP was also non-significantly
different (P>0.5). Dried citrus pulp had non-significant effect (P>0.05) on nitrogen
retention in lambs. A slightly higher nitrogen retention was observed in lambs fed diets
containing higher level of DCP (Table 4.4).
Blood Metabolites
A non-significant effect of various levels of DCP on blood urea was observed in
Lohi lambs. Blood urea was 45.13, 44.92, 44.51 and 43.41 mg/dL in lambs fed LDCP,
MDCP, HDCP and VHDCP diets, respectively (Table 4.5). Blood urea nitrogen was 21.08,
20.99, 20.80 and 20.29 mg/dL in lambs fed 10, 20, 30 and 40% DCP, respectively. Various
levels of DCP had non-significant effect on blood glucose. It was 56.41, 56.57, 57.93 and
58.52 mg/dL in the serum of lambs fed LDCP, MDCP, HDCP and VHDCP diets,
respectively (Table 4.5).
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