Evaluation of maize gluten feed in complete diets for growing sheep

Abstract

In two concurrently run experiments involving 40 growing sheep 
weigh- ing 29 - 30 kg and fed to 40 kg weight, maize Gluten Feed (GF) 
was evaluat- ed compared with Cotton Seed Meal (CSM). Dry matter 
intake, growth rate, feed conversion ratio, feed digestion and rumen 
ammonia-N were measured. Eight complete diets were fomiulated to 
comprise various ratios of GF : CSM with or without sorghum grain. 
DM intake was significantly (p < 0.05) in- creased by increasing CSM 
proportion in the rations in experiment 1, while increasing GF 
proportion significantly (p < 0.05) reduced DMI, in experi- ment 2. Best 
performance was obtained when GF : CSM ratio was 1 : 2, and a 
proportion of grain (15%) was included in the diet. Rumen ammonia-N 
concentration for the diets fed in experiment 2, was always above 50 
mg N/L at all times during 4 h - postfeeding period. In general, growth 
rate and feed conversion ratio values obtained were comparable to 
available data for grow- ing Sudan desert sheep.