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Abstract:The aim of the study is to determine the effects of different plane of nutrition during late pregnancy to lactation on the performances of ewes and their offspring to weaning. About 36 native Bengal ewes of last 7 weeks gestation were randomly assigned to four different groups (T 0 , T 1 , T 2 , T 3 ). The T 0 , T 1 , T 2 and T 3 groups were supplemented a concentrate mixture at 0.0, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0% of their body weight, respectively. Chopped German grass (Echinochloa polystachya) was provided as basal forages to ewes and a creep mixture (20 g/lamb/day) to the lambs from 2 weeks of age with a weakly increase of 10 g/lamb. The results shown that ewes dry matter intake (p < 0.01), milk yield (p < 0.05), days open (p < 0.01), live weight gain before lambing (p < 0.01) and at weaning (p < 0.01) and weight recovery from late gestation to weaning (p < 0.05) improved with high plane of nutrition. Higher weight recovery found in T 2 group. Litter size had an effect on (p < 0.01) all weight traits of lambs and ewes milk yield. Sex of lamb also affects (p < 0.05) the weaning weight and daily gain of lambs.

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A complete pellet feed was developed using 40 % roughage (Rice straw) and 60 % concentrate (Rice polish 50 %, Maize crush 16 %, Soybean meal 20 %, Molasses 10 %, Salt 2 %, DCP 1 %, Vitaminmineral premix 0.5 %, Pellet binder 0.5 %) for commercial sheep production under stall feeding system. To know the effect of complete pellet feed on animal performances, both on-station and on-farm trials were conducted in growing sheep. The results of the experiment demonstrated that in the traditional system of rearing; only 22.42 g daily weight gain was observed. While, feeding of complete pellet feed achieved 84.98 g, and 100.67 g daily weight gain at on-farm and on-station condition respectively suggesting that pelleting enhanced the efficiency of utilization of feed. However, no differences were observed for the feed cost per kg weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and benefit-cost ratio (BCR) among the pellet feeding group and other group. But results suggest that complete pellet feed would be more economical for commercial sheep production under the stall-fed condition and farmers would be more benefited using complete pellet feed compared to conventional grass or urea molasses straw (UMS) and concentrate based feeding system. No disease or clinical symptoms were observed in the animals during the experimental period, suggesting that pellet feeds are well accepted by the sheep and results in better growth rate. SAARC J. Agri., 18(2): 157-166 (2020)

The study was conducted to know the effect of different levels of pre and post-natal nutrition on the performances of ewes and their lambs until 1 year of age and the profitable slaughter age of lambs under semi intensive system. Twenty eight (28) native Bengal ewes at 7 weeks of gestation were randomly assigned to four groups (T0, T1, T2, T3) and supplemented with a concentrate mixture at 0.0, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0% of their body weight respectively. Ewes were allowed to graze 8 hours daily. Creep mixture (20 g/lamb/day) was provided to lambs from 2 weeks age with an increment of 10 g/lamb/week. After weaning, 20 growing male lambs were selected and reared 01 year of age with concentrate mixture at 1.5% of their body weight and 8 hours grazing irrespective of treatment groups. Parameters like, ewe’s litter size, daily milk yield, post-partum heat and lamb’s birth weight, weaning weight, live weight at 06, 09 and 12 months were recorded. The data were analyzed in an ANOVA with CRD by using SPSS v. 20. The mean differences were tested by DMRT at a probability level of P<0.05. After weaning, the lamb growths were analyzed considering age as fixed factor. Regression correlations among different parameters with different ages were also performed. Significantly higher daily milk yield (P<0.01), weaning weight (P<0.05) and daily weight gain of lamb until weaning (P<0.05) were observed in T2 group. Besides, lambs weight at 06, 09, and 12 months differ significantly (P<0.01) along with corresponding daily weight gain (P<0.05). Lambs daily weight gain did not differ significantly from weaning to 09 months of age but significantly reduced (P<0.05) from 09 to 12months age. Finally, it may be concluded that a concentrate diet containing 20% CP during late pregnancy to lactation should be supplied to obtain maximum performances of ewes and their lambs. Besides, native Bengal lamb would be slaughtered between 06 to 09 months of age to get maximum return. Bang. J. Livs. Res. Vol. 26 (1&2), 2019: P. 43-50