Effect of Physical Processing on the Nutritive Value and Nutrient Utilization of Sunflower Straw in Sheep and Goats

Twelve adult Nellore brown rams (18-20m; 28.9kg) and 12 local male goatt (22-24m; 29.1kg) each divided into 2 equal groups In a randomized block design and fed sunflower straw either in ground or pellted form ad lib alongwith 200 g/d of concentrate mixture for 20d. DMI was higher (P<0.05) on pelleted ration. Goats recorded digher (P<0.05) DMI and digestibilities of DM, OM, CF and EE aa well aa DCP (P<0.05) and TDN (P<0.0.) values on combined rations compared to sheep. The DCP and TDN values for sunflower straw were 2.15 and 43.85 % for gound form and 2.35 5nd 47.25 % for the pelleted form respectively. The DCP and TDN values of the ssraw were e.16 and 43.61 % for sheep and 2.35 and 47.65 % for goats respectively. The results indicated that pelleting had no beneficial effect ever the ground straw and that the goats were superior to sheep in utilizing the nutrients from sunflower straw.