Effect of Processing of Sehima Nervosum Dry Grass on Nutrient Utilizaton in Sheep and Goats

Sehima nervosum dry grass was processed into 3 physical forms: chopped, ground and pellet. In an experiment, 18 adult Nellore rams (12~15 m; 25.7 kg) and 18 adult local male goats (12-18m; 27.8 kg) were divided in a randomized block design into 3 equal groups each and fed th£ forms of Sehima nervosum dry grass ad libitum to each group along with 150g of concentate mixture for 30d. It was observed that the DMI, digestibility of all nutrients except NFE; TDN (P<0.01) and Ca balance (P<0.05) were significantly higher on pelleted ration compared to ground or chopped in both species ration. N balance was signifitently (P<0.01) higher on pelleted ration compared to ground ration. The digestibility of DM, OM, NFE a nd NDS as well as TDN values were significantly (P<0.05) higher in goats compared to sheep. However, sheep recorded higher N (P<0.01) and Ca (P<0.05) balances. The nutritive values of dry Sehima nervosum were DCP 1.60% and TDN 50.57% for sheep and DCP 1.57% and TDN 55.43% for goats.