Author(s): Maram Harani, Malavothu Mallikarjun, Vannam Yugandhar, Korra Balaji Naik, Elluru Sireesha and Chandra Radha Kumari

Abstract: The present study was targeted to find the changes in Growth, Body condition score and cost Economical variables of lambs with Azolla meal supplementation under intensive system of rearing. In order to ensure uniform average group weights, twenty-four weaned ram lambs were split into three treatment groups, T₁, T₂ and T₃. Each group consisted of eight lambs. While Azolla was supplied at rates of 10% as well as 20% of dry matter intake in T₂ and T₃, respectively, T₁ group was the control group and did not receive any Azolla supplementation. The trial feeding period lasted for 120 days. The DMI (g/day), ADG(g) and FCR recorded along with weights at fortnightly times. The final body weights and average daily gain showed significance difference among the treatments. The DMI (g/day), ADG(g), FCR, and DMI (g/day) did not reveal any discernible differences between the groups. The Body condition scores were found to be significant (p<0.05) among the treatments. Relatively low cost of feeding was observed among both T₂ and T₃ groups but high cost of feeding per kg of weight gain noticed in control group. It was concluded that Azolla can be supplemented in the diet of growing staged Nellore brown ram lambs at 10% level without any detrimental effect on the performance of the animals.

DOI: 10.33545/26174693.2024.v8.i5c.1073