Volume : 5, Issue : 6, June - 2016

EFFECT OF CONCENTRATE SUPPLEMENTATION ON THE GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND ECONOMICS OF KILAKARSAL SHEEP

Dr. M. Chellapandian

Abstract :

<p>&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;The effect of supplementary feeding of concentrates on dry matter intake, growth, cost benefit was studied in four months old Kilakarsal lambs under field conditions for 90 days. Control group was maintained only on grazing while experimental group was fed with 150 g concentrate mash feed daily in addition to grazing. Average daily dry matter intake (506.64 g), dry matter intake as % BW (3.80), live weight gain (5.89 kg) and average daily gain (65.40 g) were significantly higher (P&amp;lt;0.01) in experimental lambs than control lambs. Better live weight gain (+ 2.36 kg) was achieved in concentrate fed lambs with a cost benefit of Rs.202/- per lamb. As feeding concentrates supplementary to grazing was observed to assist rapid growth rate in young sheep with better economic returns, it could be propagated as a technology for adoption under field conditions among Kilakarsal sheep farmers.&lt;/p&gt;</p>