Effect of replacing maize grain with de-oiled rice bran on intake and utilisation of nutrients in adult ewes

Fifteen healthy adult ewes (mean BW 24.40 ± 1.26 kg) were divided randomly into three equal groups (T1, T2 and T3) of five animals each and fed three different iso-nitrogenous concentrate mixtures C1, C2 and C3, respectively. Concentrate mixture C1 (control) consisted of 40% crushed maize grain, 31% de-oiled rice bran (DORB), 26% de-oiled groundnut cake (DGNC), 2% mineral mixture and 1% common salt. In concentrate mixtures C2 and C3, maize grain was replaced with DORB at 50 and 100% levels, respectively. Intake of DM was similar (P > 0.05) in groups T1, T2 and T3 at 53.1, 48.5 and 51.7 g/kgW0.75, respectively. DM digestibility was also not different (P > 0.05) at 60.7, 55.0 and 54.5% in the respective three groups. A similar trend was observed in the digestibility of OM, EE and NDF, which were 63.0, 59.1 and 58.5; 74.9, 76.5 and 73.3; and 55.2, 51.9 and 51.3% in groups T1, T2 and T3, respectively. Digestibility (%) of ADF was reduced (P < 0.05) in group T3 (45.2%) as compared to groups T1 (52.7%) and T2 (49.4%). Digestibility of CP was also lower (P < 0.05) in group T3 (48.4%) as compared to groups T1 (55.2%) and T2 (53.9%). Whereas, intake of DDM, OM, DOM, TDN, CP and DCP was similar (P < 0.05) among the three groups, N balance (g per day) was lower (P < 0.05) in group T3 (2.62) as compared to groups T1 (4.03) and T2 (3.61). These results indicated that maize grain can be replaced with DORB up to 50% level in the concentrate mixture of adult sheep without any adverse effect on their performance. © 2003 Published by Elsevier B.V.