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Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the nutritional value of common fodder tree leaves with goats fed at 50% of total ration. In experiment 1, leaves from six fodder tree species i.e., Ailanthus aitissima, Elaeagnus angustifolic, Morus alba (Mulberry), Populus spp, Robina pseudoacacia and Salix babylonia were harvested in spring and winter from northern areas of Pakistan. Chemical composition and apparent in situ dry matter digestibility (DMD) of fodder tree leaves were measured. Results showed that crude protein (CP) values were higher (p<0.05) in all the species during spring compared to winter (17.9% vs 12.0%). The concentration of NDF in Elaeagnus and Robinia was higher in spring, whereas no seasonal difference was found in other species. In situ DMD was higher (p<0.05) in Ailanthus and Populus at spring while it was higher (p<0.05) in Elaeagnus, Mulberry and Robinia at winter. There was no (p<0.05) seasonal effect on in situ DMD of Salix. In experiment II, four iso-nitrogenous and iso-caloric rations viz., A, B, C and D were prepared containing 50% (winter harvested) sun dried leaves of Salix, Robinia, Mulberry and Elaeagnus, respectively and 50% concentrate. Dry matter and crude protein intakes were higher (p<0.05) given ration A (Salix) whereas DM and CP digestibility was lowest (p<0.05) given ration B. Nitrogen retention was higher (p<0.05) given ration A. Goats fed on fodder tree leaves and concentrate showed moderate intake and digestibility.

A study was designed to determine the effects on broiler performance of two levels of antioxidant (ethoxyquin) in poultry rations containing two levels of oxidized and non-oxidized soybean oil. One hundred and eighty, day old broiler chicks were randomly divided into six experimental groups comprising thirty chicks on each treatment. Six experimental rations having 2% nonoxidized soybean oil, 2% and 3% oxidized soybean oil, all three supplemented with normal (125 g/t) or higher (175 g/t) level of ethoxyquin, were formulated for both starter (0-28 days) and finisher (29-42 days) phases. These rations were randomly fed to six experimental groups having 30 birds on each ration and three replicates on each treatment. Weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of chicks fed 2% non-oxidized and 2% oxidized soybean oil were statistically non-significant. Weight gain in groups fed 3% oxidized oil was significantly lower than non-oxidized group while FCR was significantly lower than both groups. Weight gain in the higher level ethoxyquin group was significantly better than lower level, while feed intake and FCR were statistically non-significant in both levels of ethoxyquin. Acid and Thiobarbituric Acid (TBA) values in the three groups differed significantly with the lower in non-oxidized group and highest in the 3% oxidized group. Higher level of ethoxyquin significantly lower acid and TBA values compared to lower level of ethoxyquin. Thus it can be concluded that oxidation of oil reduces its feeding value and that the addition of ethoxyquin is beneficial.

This study was designed to examine the response of feeding early weaning diets without and with amino acids supplemented cottonseed meal on growth performance and digestibility of early weaned cow calves. Fifteen 14-21 days old cross bred cow calves were randomly allotted to three experimental diets. Diet A comprised of milk replacer and concentrate feed whereas two isocaloric and iso-nitrogenous early weaning diets viz., B and C were prepared without and with lysine and methionine supplemented cottonseed meal, respectively. These early weaning diets were used as substitute of milk replacer for calves. Calves were placed in individual cages and fed twice daily for a period of 60 days. Daily feed intake, feed refused and weekly weight gain was recorded. Two digestibility trials I and II were performed at 5th and 9th week of the experiment, respectively. During the digestibility trial I, calves were fed on ad libitum basis whereas in trial II, calves were fed at 90% of their voluntary DMI. Feed, orts and feces samples were collected, weighed daily, composited, subsampled and analysed for DM and CP. Results indicated that weight gain of calves was (p<0.05) higher on diets A (0.63 kg/d/calf) and C (0.64 kg/d/calf) compared to calves on diet B (0.57 kg/d/calf). Significantly (p<0.05) less daily DMI was observed on diet A (1.48 kg) compared to early weaning diets B (1.70 kg) and C (1.72 kg). The feed efficiency was (p<0.05) better on diet A (2.33) compared to diets B (2.95) and C (2.65). The economic efficiency was noticed to be better on diets B and C compared to diet A. In trial I, digestibility of DM and CP of diet A was (p<0.05) higher than diets B and C. Whereas in trial II, digestibility of DM and CP of diet A was (p<0.05) less than diets B and C. It was concluded that early weaning diet based on lysine and methionine supplemented cottonseed meal produced better weight gain and feed efficiency compared to non-supplemented cottonseed meal based diet.

Fourteen non-descript zebu cattle calves of about 1 year and 6 months age and 111 kg average body weight were used in this experiment. Grazing (5 h daily) animals were supplemented with urea-molasses blocks with and without Yucca, while the control group was without any supplementation i.e. grazing only. The feeding trial continued for a period of 70 days (November to February). At the end of trial three animals per treatment were slaughtered to compare carcass traits. Group no. 1 was fed block with yucca, group no. 2 was fed block without yucca and group no. 3 was on grazing only. Block intake was found to be 724 g/h/d and 1,239 g/h/d for group no. 1 and group no. 2, respectively (p<0.05). Feed efficiency of blocks was found to be 2.71 kg and 4.86 kg for group no. 1 and group no. 2, respectively (p<0.05). Block intake per kg BW 0.75 was found to be 14.75 and 26.05 gram for group 1 and group 2, respectively (p<0.05). Average daily body weight gain was found to be 267 g/h/d, 255 g/h/d and 169 g/h/d for group 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Carcass traits among the three treatments were found to be statistically similar. Thus urea-molasses blocks supplementation improved body weight gain and addition of yucca in the blocks further improved body weight gain, feed efficiency and economics. Environment (ambient temperature, rainfall, wind and humidity) had no significant effect on three treatments.