Deriving nutrient requirements of growing Indian sheep under tropical condition using performance and intake data emanated from feeding trials conducted in different research institutes

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Abstract:

Data from 19 feeding trials conducted on growing sheep from different institutes across India were subjected to regression analysis to derive requirements of TDN, CP and DCP for maintenance and body weight gain. Maintenance requirements for TDN, CP and DCP were 37.0, 6.68 and 4.43g/kg W0.75, respectively for the BW range of 7–15kg, and the corresponding maintenance requirements for the BW range of 15.1–30kg were 35.3, 6.98 and 4.49g. The corresponding requirements for 1g gain in BW were 0.91, 0.47, and 0.31g, for 7–15kg BW and 1.21, 0.43 and 0.30g, respectively for 15–30kg BW range. Regression equations had high R2 values (0.59–0.84) and the equations (F value) as well as coefficients were highly significant (P<0.001). Regressed values were used to develop feeding standards. Derived values matched well with the actual intake versus performance of animals under diverse feeding conditions. The new standards so derived predicted requirements and intake of nutrients for different production levels better than existing feeding standards; as these are based on a more thorough analysis of a larger database, the new feeding standards will be appropriate for wide use in India.

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