Effect of Certain Physical Treatments on the Utilization of Sorghum Straw in Sheep and Goats

Chopped (ration I), ground (ration II) and pelleted (ration III) sorghum straw was fed ad-lib. along with 200 g concentrate mixture/bead/day to 18 Nellore rams and 18 adult local bucks (6 in each group) in a digestion and metabolism experiment using randomized block design. The DM and water intake in both the species were significantly (P<0.01) higher in ration HI than on ration I and II. Goats consumed more DM and water than sheep irrespective of processing. The digestion coefficients of different proximate principles except EE, fibre fractions and energy were significantly (P<0.01) higher on ration III as compared to ration I and II. The digestibility of all nutrients except EE, hemicellulose and cellulose were significantly (P<0.01) higher in goats than in sheep. Experimental animals of both the species were in positive nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus balances.