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- Title
The nutritional value of peanut hay ( Arachis hypogaea L.) as an alternate forage source for sheep.
- Authors
Khan, Muhammad; Khan, Nazir; Bezabih, Melkamu; Qureshi, Muhammad; Rahman, Altafur
- Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the nutritional and feeding value of peanut hay ( Arachis hypogaea L.) produced under tropical environment as an alternate forage resource for sheep. Peanut hay was appreciably high in crude protein [CP; 105 g/kg dry matter (DM)] and lower in neutral detergent fiber (NDF; 466 g/kg DM). Moreover, peanut hay was rich in Ca (12 g/kg DM) and P (1.7 g/kg DM). A feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effect of substituting wheat straw with peanut hay on nutrient intake, digestibility, and N utilization. Four adult Ramghani (Kaghani × Rambouillet) wethers (60 ± 2.5 kg body weight) were randomly assigned to the four dietary treatments according to a 4 × 4 Latin square design. The four rations were formulated on isonitrogenous and isocaloric bases and differed in the proportion (in grams per kilogram DM) of wheat straw/peanut hay, i.e., 700:0, 460:240, 240:460, and 0:700. The replacement of wheat straw with peanut hay increased the intakes of DM ( P < 0.001), NDF ( P < 0.01), and N ( P < 0.001). Moreover, apparent in vivo digestibility of DM, NDF, and CP increased ( P < 0.001) with the increasing proportion of peanut hay in the ration. Nitrogen retention in the body increased ( P < 0.01; 3.2 to 8.1 g/day) with the replacement of wheat straw with peanut hay. These findings showed that substitution of wheat straw with peanut hay can improve DM and nutrients intake, digestibility, and N retention in sheep.
- Subjects
WHEAT straw as feed; FORAGE; SHEEP breeds; SHEEP breeding; SHEEP feeding; ARACHIS; PEANUTS; ANIMAL feeding; DIGESTION; INGESTION; SHEEP
- Publication
Tropical Animal Health & Production, 2013, Vol 45, Issue 3, p849
- ISSN
0049-4747
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s11250-012-0297-8