Effect of dried corn distillers' grains with solubles and soybean meal supplements on physiological indicators and reproductive performance of ewes

Effect of supplementation of distillers' dried grain with solubles (DDGS) to a straw-based diet on performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality in Nellore ram lambs

Distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), a byproduct of ethanol production, has gained recognition as a viable alternative feed supplement for ram lambs because of its nutritional profile and cost-effectiveness. This study evaluated the effect of supplementing straw-based diets with different levels of DDGS on the growth performance and economic viability of growing ram lambs. A total of 24 ram lambs (16.07 ± 1.78 kg; 4 months old) were assigned to one of four dietary treatments in a completely randomized design: a basal diet (sorghum stover) supplemented with a concentrate mix (18% crude protein) at 2% body weight (D1) or the basal diet supplemented with DDGS at 1% (D2), 1.5% (D3), or 2% (D4) of body weight for 90 days. Data were analyzed using Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA). While the total feed intake was comparable (P = 0.695) among the lambs fed different experimental diets, the D3 and D4 diets significantly improved the average daily gain and reduced the feed conversion ratio compared to the D1 diet (P < 0.001). However, the D3-fed lambs showed a cost-effective gain compared to the D4-fed lambs (P < 0.001). Although the D4 group tended to have a higher pre-slaughter weight than the D1 group (P = 0.083), the empty body and hot carcass weights were comparable among all groups (P > 0.05). Similarly, dressing percentage, wholesale cut yield, body wall thickness, loin-eye area, visceral organ yield, carcass composition, and meat chemical composition were statistically similar among the dietary groups (P > 0.05). Based on the growth performance and cost economics of the present study it was concluded that supplementing DDGS at 1.5% of body weight to a stover-based diet in growing ram lambs seems to be a viable and economical option.

Effect of feeding of sorghum stover based complete feed blocks containing guar meal as protein supplement on reproductive efficiency, hormone profile and antioxidant status in Deccani ewes

Guar meal (GM) can be considered as an alternative protein source for the livestock and has a potential value as a feed to animals with a high protein content ranging between 45–55%. A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of partial replacement of groundnut cake (GNC) with guar meal (GM) on reproductive efficiency, hormone profile, antioxidant status in Deccani ewes fed sorghum stover based complete feed blocks (SSCFB). Twenty-one non-pregnant Deccani ewes (b. wt. 23.34 ±0.40 kg; 2–4 years old and body condition score 2.51±0.56) were randomly divided into three groups to contain 7 animals each in a completely randomized design. Three dietary treatments viz. S1: conventional feeding (sorghum stover and concentrate mixture fed separately in 50:50 ratios to meet the requirement), S2: SSCFB with GNC as protein supplement in concentrate mixture and S3: SSCFB with GM replacing GNC nitrogen of S2 at 50% level. The ewes were synchronised for estrus with progesterone impregnated intravaginal sponges and naturally mated. The ewes were fed at the rate of 3.1 and 3.7% of their body weight from 1^st day of experiment—to 108^th day of gestation and from 108^th day of gestation to till lambing, respectively. The replacement of 50% of GNC nitrogen with GM and densification of diet had no effect (P>0.05) on average DMI (g), antioxidant status, progesterone concentration, conception rate, non return rate, no of matings per service, lambing rate, body weights of lambs at birth, 15 and 30 days of age. GNC can be partially replaced by GM in the ewes diet without any adverse effect on reproductive parameters, antioxidant status, progesterone concentration and weight of lambs.