International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 3, Issue 4, April 2013 ISSN 2250-3153

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Supplementation of Concentrate/Legume Hay with Maize Silage on Nutrient Utilization and Nitrogen Balance in Nellore Ram Lambs M. Venkateswarlu*, Y. Ramana Reddy*, D.N.Lakshmi*, J.Narasimha*, M. Mahender**, A. Rajasekhara Reddy***, Jagadeeshwar* and M. Pawani* *

Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary Science, Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad-500030, India ** Department of Livestock Production and Management, College of Veterinary Science, Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad-500030, India *** Department of Poultry Science, College of Veterinary Science, Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad-500030, India

Abstract- An on-farm experiment was conducted with Nellore ram lambs by feeding intensively for five months period with sole maize silage (R-I), silage + concentrate at 0.5 per cent body weight (R-II), silage + concentrate at 1.0 per cent body weight (R-III), silage + concentrate at 1.5 per cent body weight (R-IV), silage + lucerne hay (R-V) and silage + GN haulms (R-VI) to develop a feeding system based on maize (Zea mays) silage with supplementation of concentrate mixture and or legume hay/straw at appropriate level to study the nutrient utilization and nitrogen metabolism and compared with the performance of ram lambs fed sweet sorghum bagasse based complete diet (R-VII). The DMI (g/d) was significantly (P