PRODUCTIVE PARAMETERS OF GROWING SHEEP GIVEN THE PROCESSED PITH RATION

Abstract

Sixteen local breed growing sheep (12 months old; 15 i 1.11 kg BW) were used to
examine the effect of feeding processed pith on productive parameters of sheep. Piths were ammoniated (10% urea) and then were fermented for three weeks by mixed microbes (T0 : 0% mixed microbes; T1 : 0.5% mixed microbes T2 : 1% mixed microbes and T3 : 1.5% mixed microbes). Sheep were fed the rations those contained 70% elephant grass and 30% processed pith. The examined productive parameters of sheep were dry matter and organic matter digestibility, dry matter consumption, nitrogen consumption, total digestible nutrient, nitrogen retention and average daily gain.Dry matter and nitrogen consumption of sheep were increased (P<.05) by feeding T1, T1 and T3 rations compared to those of feeding To ration, Total digestible nutrient and in vivo digestibility of the pith ration were increased (P<.05) as the level of mixed microbes increased. Amount of nitrogen retention in sheep were increased (P<.05) by feeding processed pith. Daily body weight gain were higher (P<.05) in sheep given the processed pith
rations than that of given pith ration. Though the daily body weight gain of sheep were not significantly influenced by the level of mixed microbes addition, there was a significant different (P<.05) between the effect of feeding T1 ration and T; ration on daily body weight gain of sheep. The processed pith could substitute partly the amount of Penniseluni purpureum given in the ruminant ration.