Abstract:
This experiment was carried out to evaluate comparative effect of Urea molasses and effective
microbes (EM) treated finger millet straw on chemical composition, nutrient intake,
digestibility and growth performance of washera lambs. Twenty yearling intact male Washera
Lambs with initial body weight of 21. J3±1. 77 kg (mean ± SD) were used in 90 days feeding
trial followed by 10 days digestibility triaL. These lambs were grouped into five blocks of four
animals and randomly assigned to four dietary treatments. Thefour experimental feeds were:
untreatedfinger millet straw + 150 g wheat bran (WB) (Tl), untreatedfinger millet straw +
150 g Wheat Bran (WB) + 150 g Noug Seed Cake(NSC) (T2), urea molasses (UM) treated
finger millet straw + 150 g WB+ 150 g NSC (T3) and EM treat:edfinger millet straw + 150 g
WB + 150 g NSC (T4). The lambs were de-wormed and vaccinated against ecto and endo
parasites. They were acclimatized for 15 days to the experimental diets and individual pens.
Water and mineral block (salt) were offered as free choice throughout the experimental
period. The supplemental feeds were offered twice daily in two equal portions. Untreated and
treated finger millet straw was provided as a basal diet and offered ad libitum. Daily feed
offered andrefused were weighted and recorded. Live weight gain of each lamb was recorded
in two weeks interval, before feeding. Digestibility trial was conducted at the end of the
growth trial. Lambs were acclimatized to faecal collection bags for 3 days followed by 7 days
of total faecal collection. Data were analyzed using GLM procedure 'of SAS version (2003).
Results showed that CP content of finger millet straw was improved from 2.13% to 9.7% in
urea molasses treatment and 2.13 to 2.39% in EM treatments respectively. Total DU Cl', and
OM intake was higher in lambs assigned in urea molasses and effective microbes treated
groups than the control groups; with significantly highest (P<O.0 1) in urea molasses treated
groups. Total DMJ as percentage of BW had not significant difference (P>0.05) among the
treatment groups. Effective microbes and urea molasses treatments records significantly
higher (P<0.05) apparent digestibility of DM, CP, higherfeed conversion efficiency and body
weight gain, is being higher in effective microbes treated. Therefore, it can be concluded that
EM and Ul\1 treatments could serve as an alternative measure to improve nutritive value of
than urea molasses treatment.