Year: 2021 | Month: June | Volume 11 | Issue 3
Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Ram Lambs Fed Concentrate Mixture Containing Varying Levels of Cashew Nut Kernel Meal
B. Sravani
K. Raja Kishore
D. Srinivas Kumar
M. Kalyana Chakravarthi
DOI:10.30954/2277-940X.03.2021.17
Abstract:
A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding concentrate mixture containing varying levels of cashew nut kernel meal (CNKM) on growth performance and carcass characteristics in ram lambs. In a completely randomized design, 18 ram lambs were divided into 3 equal groups of six each. They were allotted in to three dietary treatments (T1 to T3) comprising of green fodder viz., Super Napier and concentrate mixture (20% CP) containing CNKM at 0, 10 and 20%, respectively. The body weight gain and average daily gain increased (P<0.05) linearly with increasing level of CNKM in concentrate mixtures from T1 to T3, while the feed cost per kg weight gain decreased by ` 1.46 in T2 and ` 19.81 in T3 as compared to control. Carcass studies in ram lambs fed concentrate mixtures had no effect (P>0.05) on various carcass parameters expressed as percentage of hot carcass weight. No significant differences were observed in the proportion of whole sale cuts (% carcass weight) and yield of visceral organs (% of pre slaughter weight) among the different treatments. It is concluded that CNKM can be included up to 20 % in the concentrate mixture for improved body weight gain, feed efficiency and economical meat production in ram lambs.
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