Effect of pulse Chunni based complete diets on growth and biometry of Nellore Ramlambs

Introduction

Feed cost constitutes about 75% of livestock production expenses, and declining feed resources are a major constraint in India (Naik et al., 2012; Biradar and Kumar, 2013) [16,4] . Conventional use of cereals and legumes for livestock feeding also intensifies competition with human consumption (Fagbeno and Arowosoge, 1991) [9] . Agro-industrial by-products, particularly pulse chunnies, offer a potential alternative. Chunni, a by-product of pulse processing, consists of broken grains, husk, and germ coat, contributing 15-20% of total pulse weight (Sudhakar Reddy et al., 2000) [27] . Earlier studies have shown its effective inclusion in ruminant diets without adverse effects on nutrient utilization (Padmaja, 1996; Radhakrishna, 1999) [17,19] . In Telangana, where livestock supports nearly 29.25 lakh households, about 4,06,000 tonnes of brans and chunnies are produced annually (Anonymous, 2016) [1] . However, their utilization in feeding systems remains limited. Considering the poor nutritive value of crop residues, combining them with chunnies in complete rations could reduce feed costs and improve productivity. The present study was undertaken to assess the nutritive potential and feeding value of pulse chunnies in ruminant diets.

Materials and Methods

Preparation of experimental complete rations

Four sorghum-straw based complete rations were formulated Table 2 and Chemical composition of experimental rations presented in Table 3.

Biometric Measurements

Measurements were taken in centimetres using a flexible standard measuring tape (Freemans ® ) after ensuring that lambs stood squarely on a level surface. All measurements were recorded in the morning before feeding and watering, as described by Rangamma et al. (2022) [21] . The following traits were measured:  Pin shoulder length (PSL): Horizontal distance from the point of shoulder to the point of tuber Ischii on the same side.  Height at withers (HAW): Vertical distance from the base of the hoof to the highest point of the withers.

 Heart girth (HG): Chest circumference, measured just behind the elbow joint.  Paunch girth (PG): Distance across the rump, from the tuberosity of the ilium on one side to the other.

Statistical analysis

Statistical analysis of the data was carried out according to the procedures suggested by Snedecor and Cochran (1994) [26] . Least-square Analysis of variance was used to test the significance of various treatments and the difference between treatment means was tested for significance by Duncan's Multiple Range and F Test (Duncan, 1955) [8] . The mean body weight of Nellore brown ram lambs differed significantly (p<0.01) from the 2 nd to 8 th fortnight, with lambs fed T 2 , T 3 and T 4 diets recording higher weights than those on the control (T 1 ). Total body weight gain was highest in T 2 (10.98 kg), followed by T 3 (10.76 kg), T 4 (10.66 kg) and T 1 (10.65 kg). The overall ADG was significantly higher (p<0.01) in T 2 (91.46 g/day) compared to other treatments. Improved performance in T 2 lambs was likely due to better nutrient utilization and balanced roughage-to-concentrate intake, which supported efficient rumen fermentation and microbial protein synthesis. Feed intake and DMI were also higher in T 2 lambs, reflecting better acceptability of red gram chunni-based diets. The FCR was most favorable in T 2 , indicating efficient conversion of feed into body weight gain.

Results and Discussion

Biometry of lambs

The final mean pin shoulder length recorded in the present study was 60.87±0.97, 64.25±1.39, 62.88±0.89 and 62.50±1.34 cm in eighth fortnight for T 1 , T 2 , T 3 and T 4 groups, respectively (Table 5). The present results are in agreement with the findings of Monali Bhaskar (2018) [14] , Mohit et al. (2019b) [13] and Tharuntej et al. (2020) [31] who reported the non-significant effect of different floors on PSL.

The findings of the present study are also corroborating the findings of Sundaram et al. (2002) [28] , Dass et al. (2012) [6] in Muzaffarnagri sheep, Tailor and Yadav (2011 and 2012) [29,30] in Sonadi sheep. Divate (2014) [7] also reported significant effects of different floors on PSL. On contrary, Rangamma et al. (2022) [21] reported lesser PSL in Nellore lambs from 3 to 9 months age group maintained on different rearing systems and Pandu (2021) [18] also reported lesser PSL in Nellore lambs maintained on different flooring systems, whereas Gowane et al. (2015) [10] reported higher PSL in Malpura sheep. The rate of weight gain in terms of body weight and average daily gain were reflected in their concomitant growth pattern observed in body length in all the treatment groups. The height at withers of lambs was similar (P=0.05) throughout the experiment, where the T 2 group showed higher HAW compared to T 1 , T 3 and T 4 in the eighth fortnight. Lower height at withers observed in T 1 group of experimental lambs (Table 6). The present results are in agreement with the findings of Monali Bhaskar (2018) [14] , Mohit et al. (2019b) [13] and Tharuntej et al. (2020) [31] who had stated the nonsignificant effect of different floors on height at withers. The present findings were disagreed with the findings of Sundaram et al. (2002) [28] , Divate (2014) [7] , Pandu (2021) [18] as they reported significant effects of different floor on height at withers. Several other workers (Raman et al., 2003 and Dass et al., 2012) [20,6] also reported similar values for height at withers, while Mishra et al. (2004) [12] , Mondal and Kakati (2010) [15] , Tailor and Yadav (2011) [29] , Pandu (2021) [18] and Rangamma et al. (2022) [21] , reported lower height at withers of lambs. The heart girth of lambs now recorded was non-significant (p>0.05) throughout the experiment, but higher heart girth was observed in T 2 group, followed by T 4 in the eighth fortnight among the four groups of lambs (Table 7) as this circumference of heart girth of the lambs is an important indicator of animal health, body weight and size, which helps in respiration. The present results were in agreement with Bharambe and Burte (2012) [3] and Kochewad (2015) [11] in Daccani lambs and Rangamma et al. (2022) [21] in Nellore lambs who found stall fed animals had higher heart girth gain than semi-stall and grazing animals. Raman et al. (2003) [20] and Dass et al. (2012) [6] also reported similar values, while Mishra et al. (2004) [12] , Mondal and Kakati (2010) [15] and Tailor and Yadav (2011) [29] reported lesser values compared to present study. The rate of weight gain in terms of body weight and average daily gain was reflected in their concomitant growth pattern observed in heart girth in all the treatment groups. The present results also in agreement with the findings of Monali Bhaskar (2018) [14] , Mohit et al. (2019b) [13] and Tharuntej et al. (2020) [31] who stated the nonsignificant effect of different floors on heart girth. The present findings are in disagreement with the findings of Sundaram et al. (2002) [28] , Divate (2014) [7] and Pandu (2021) [18] as they reported significant effects of different floors on heart girth.

Heart girth

Paunch Girth

The paunch girth of lambs was increased linearly throughout the experimental period and was non-significant (p>0.05), but higher paunch girth was observed in T 2 group, followed by T 4 , T 3 and T 1 groups of lambs in the eighth fortnight of the study (Table 8). The present findings are in agreement with the reports of Monali Bhaskar (2018) [14] , Mohit et al. (2019b) [13] and Tharuntej et al. (2020) [31] who stated the nonsignificant effect of different floors on paunch girth. The present results were consistent with Singh et al. (2014) [25] in Koraput sheep and Rangamma et al. (2022) [21] in Nellore lambs, who reported higher paunch girth in intensively reared lambs compared to semi-intensive and extensive systems. Arora et al. (2007) [2] , Ravimurugan and Devendran (2009) [23] , Ravimurugan et al. (2010) [24] , Rani et al. (2014) [22] , Yadav et al. (2014) [33] , Thorat (2015) [32] and Dasari (2017) [5] reported similar paunch girth values. On contrary, Sundaram et al. (2002) [28] , Divate (2014) [7] and Pandu (2021) [18] reported significant effects of different floors on paunch girth.

Conclusion

The Pin Shoulder Length (PSL) of all the experimental ram lambs increased linearly from 1st to 8th fortnights and was non-significant throughout the experiment. The data also shown higher PSL in T 2 group when compared with other groups in the eighth fortnight and significantly higher (p˂0.05) PSL in lambs of T 2 and T 3 groups in sixth fortnight compare to other groups. The height at withers of lambs was similar (P=0.05) throughout the experiment, where the T 2 group showed higher height at weathers compared to other three groups in the eighth fortnight. Lower height at withers observed in T 1 group experimental lambs. The paunch girth was increased linearly throughout the experimental period and was non-significant (p>0.05), but higher paunch girth was observed in T 2 group of lambs, followed by T [14,13,31,21] . The study evaluated the effect of pulse chunni inclusion in sorghum-straw-based diets on growth of Nellore brown ram lambs. Among treatments, inclusion of 15% red gram chunni (T 2 ) significantly improved feed intake, body weight gain, ADG, and biometric traits compared to control and other pulse chunnies. Thus, red gram chunni proved superior as a feed resource under intensive rearing.

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