Page 69 - Effects of dried citrus pulp on nutrient intake, nitrogen balance and growth performance in Lohi lambs

DCP on intake of NDF and ADF. The NDF intake was 0.23, 0.24, 0.26 and 0.26 kg/day
while ADF intake was 0.18, 0.19, 0.20 and 0.20 kg/day in lambs fed LDCP, MDCP, HDCP

and VHDCP diets respectively.

Various levels of DCP in diet had non-significant effect on digestibility of Lohi
lambs. The DM digestibility of DCP (10, 20, 30, and 40%) was 69.60, 69.57, 68.18 and

67.98%. The OM digestibility was 72.40, 72.35, 71.26 and 71.22% with inclusion of 10,

20, 30 and 40 % DCP in diet, respectively. Digestibility of CP was 70.10, 69.16, 68.90 and
67.55% in lambs fed LDCP, MDCP, HDCP and VHDCP diets, respectively. The NDF

digestibility was 49.32, 48.97, 48.74 and 47.27% in lambs fed 10, 20, 30 and 40% DCP of
dietary DM, respectively. The ADF digestibility of LDCP, MDCP, HDCP and VHDCP

was 46.65, 46.30, 45.61 and 45.51%, respectively.

Different levels of DCP had non-significant effect on nitrogen intake. The Intake
increased slightly (30.7, 30.14, 30.59 and 30.62 g/day) with an increase in level of DCP

(10, 20, 30 and 40%) in diet. There was no significant effect on fecal and urinary excretion
of nitrogen as well as nitrogen retention. While, it was observed that the mean retention of

nitrogen in the body slightly increased with an increase in DCP level in the lamb’s diet.

Non-significant effect of DCP on blood urea was observed in lambs. A slight
decrease in blood urea (45.13 to 43.41 mg/dL) was experienced when level of DCP was

increased (10 to 40%) in lamb’s diet. Similarly, there was no effect of DCP on BUN while,
a slight increase was observed when the level of DCP was increased. Glucose level in blood

of lambs was similar to each other in lambs fed various levels of DCP (10, 20, 30 and 40%)
in diet.

There was a non-significant difference among initial and final weight of the lambs

allotted to different treatments of DCP. Similarly, there was no significant difference in
body weight gain. While, a slight increase in the mean body weight was observed with an

increase in DCP level in diet. The highest weight gain was in lambs fed VHDCP diet while

the lowest body weight gain was in lambs fed LDCP diet.

DCP had a significant effect (P>0.05) on gain to feed ratio. It was 0.078, 0.079,

0.080 and 0.082 for lambs fed on LDCP, MDCP, HDCP and VHDCP diets, respectively.

Price per kilogram of live body weight was determined by dividing total cost of production
by total weight gain. It was 200.65, 189.05, 188.85 and 181.93 Rs. in diets containing 10,

63