An experiment was conducted by feeding sorghum straw (Sorghum bicolor) based complete rations at roughage concentrate ratio 70:30 (CR-I), 60:40 (CR-II), 50:50 (CR-III), and 40:60 (CR-IV) for 180 days to find out suitable ratio of sorghum straw in the complete ration (mash form) on nutrient utilization and nitrogen balance in Nellore ram lambs. The DMI (g/day) increased significantly (P < 0.05) as level of concentrate increased in complete rations. No significant difference was found in digestibilities of proximate nutrients. However, CP digestibility was higher either significantly or nonsignificantly by 2.12, 5.50, and 9.36 %, respectively, in lambs fed with CR-II (P > 0.05), CR-III (P > 0.05), and CR-IV (P < 0.05) rations in comparison to lambs fed with CR-I ration. Furthermore, CP digestibility was higher by 7.09 and 3.66 % in lambs fed with CR-IV ration than those fed with CR-II (P < 0.05) and CR-III (P > 0.05) ration. The average CWC digestibility coefficients were comparable among four rations. The N intake (g/day) was significantly (P < 0.01) different and progressively increased by 31.46, 48.69, and 82.86 % in ram lambs fed with CR-II, CR-III, and CR-IV rations, respectively, in comparison to CR-I ration. The N balance (g/day) was higher either significantly or nonsignificantly by 34.46 (P > 0.05), 133.46 (P < 0.01), and 198.87 % (P < 0.01) with CR-II, CR-III, and CR-IV rations, respectively, in comparison to CR-I ration. Based on results, it is inferred that the level of sorghum straw in complete ration had no effect on digestibility of nutrients barring crude protein in Nellore ram lambs.

Aim:The main intension of this research work is to develop a feeding system for growing Nellore ram lambs by feeding maize silage based rations supplemented with concentrate and or legume hay at certain levels to investigate the growth rate. Materials and Methods:Experimental animals (Nellore ram lambs) were purchased from local sandy and maize silage was prepared at village by using silos (9''L X 9''W X 8''D) and concentrate mixture was prepared at feed mill located at department by using locally available ingredients. Animals were housed in well ventilated sheds and were dewormed and vaccinated against diseases. Fortnightly body weights were taken by using spring balance and calculated the total weight gain and ADG. The experimental animals were divided into seven groups based on their body weight to contain six in each and were fed intensively for five months 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) and sweet sorghum bagasse based complete diet (R-VII) to study the growth rate.Results: Significantly (P<0.01) increase in ADG was observed in ram lambs fed R-IV ration was 16.58, 20.49, 24.10, 29.74, 38.28 and 62.01 per cent, respectively in comparison to those fed R-VII, R-V, R-III, R-VI, R-II and R-I rations. Almost similar ADG was noticed in lambs fed R-III, R-V and R-VII rations and the supplementation of concentrate at 0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5% of body weight plus maize silage ad lib has increased the growth/gain in ram lambs by 62.48, 99.81 and 163.25 per cent, respectively in comparison to sole silage feeding. Similarly, supplementation of lucerne hay and groundnut haulms with maize silage has increased the weight gain by 109.31 and 84.97 per cent, respectively in comparison to sole maize silage fed animals. Sole sweet sorghum bagasse (SSB) based complete ration (50:50) fed lambs (R-VII ration) showed the ADG almost similar to those animals fed lucerne hay plus maize silage ad lib. Conclusions:Based on the results of this study, it is concluded that, maize silage can be supplemented either with lucerne hay, groundnut haulms (to meet 25% of DM requirement) or concentrate mixture at 1.5% of body weight for obtaining optimum growth rate in Nellore ram lambs.

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The average daily gains (ADG) were found to be 510.3 and 511.8 g/day, respectively on ration 1 and 2 and were non significant. The DM intake per kg live weight gain (kg) was 7.47 and 7.59 recorded with ration 1 and 2, respectively. The voluntary daily feed intake (kg) of 3.25 and 3.43 per 100 kg body weight was observed with ration 1 and 2, respectively. Supplementation of mulberry hay as mixed fodder decreased the digestibilities of DM, OM, CF (P<0.01) and an increased digestibility of CP (P<0.05). No significant difference in the digestibilities of EE and NFE were observed among the two rations. Based on the results, this study revealed that mulberry hay was palatable, improved the nutrient utilization of straw rations and could be safely supplemented at 50% level, as leguminous component of the diet and feed cost can be reduced by saving 0.66 kg of concentrate per animal per day in growing crossbred calves.

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