Research
Seasonal Productivity of Flemingia Macrophylla under Different Defoliation Frequencies
Flemingia macrophylla is introduced and established with the aim of helping to mitigate the dry season fodder deficit in many developing countries. A study was carried out to assess the effect of season and defoliation frequency on the fodder yield and the chemical constituents of F. macrophylla. The experiment was conducted using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 2 2 factorial arrangements of treatments for four-years-old mature stands of F. macrophylla. Dry and wet were the levels of season factor and three months and six months defoliation intervals were the levels of defoliation frequency. Each treatment was replicated for five times. The nutrient contents of fodders were determined using proximate analysis. The results showed that the plants harvested on wet season had higher (p<0.01) dried fodder yield than the plants harvested in dry seasons. The plants defoliated in three months interval had yielded higher (p<0.001) annual fodder biomass than the plants defoliated in six months interval. Likewise, the fodder harvested in the wet season had better nutrient composition compared to the fodder harvested in dry season. Similarly, the fodder harvested in three months defoliation interval had better nutrient composition than the fodders harvested in six months defoliation. The results revealed that the seasonal variation in dry and wet season yields of F. macrophylla was prominent, and harvesting of the fodder in three months defoliation interval could be the better practice in comparison to defoliation in six months interval in order to produce higher fodder yield with better nutrient composition.
Effect of Heat Treated Soybean Cake Feeding on Growth Performnce of Growing Female Goats in Fodder based Basal Diet
Growth comparison of goats fed with treated and none treated soybean cake is not evaluated so far in Nepal. Therefore, an experiment was carried out on eighteen growing female goats (50% Jamunapari 6, 50% Barberi 6 and Kiko goats 6) at the Agriculture Research Station (Goat), Bandipur for 90 days after an adaptation period of 7 days. Female goats of average five months age having body weight 11.86 kg were allocated into three groups having six animals in each group by using Complete Randomized Design (CRD). For T1 and T2 concentrate mixture were composed by using procured feed ingredients with 16% crude protein level while T3 was fed with commercial feed. Experimental animals of T1 group was provided forest mixed fodder (adlib) + treated soybean cake included concentrate mixture @ 1.5% of body weight, T2 group was provided forest mixed fodder (adlib) + untreated soybean cake included concentrate mixture @ 1.5% of body weight whereas T3 was provided forest mixed fodder (adlib) + commercial concentrate mixture @ 1.5% of body weight. Experiment revealed that higher intake of concentrate feed was recorded for T1 (207.6 g) followed by T3 (199.58 g) and T2 (193.87 g) which was highly significant (P<0.001) among diet groups. Similarly, fodder intake was also noted significantly higher (P<0.001) among diet groups (1969.5 g, 1967.6 g and 1942 g for T2, T3 and T1, respectively). Feed and fodder intake of different genotypes of goats was found to be non-significant among goat breeds. In addition, feed conversion ratio per kg body weight gain was observed higher for T3 (22.49:1) followed by T2 (17.57:1) and T1 (16.24:1). Similarly, initial body weight of T1, T2 and T3 was 12.15 kg, 11.25 kg and 12.18 kg respectively that reached 17.66 kg, 16.33 kg and 16.40 kg during 90 days of experiment for T1, T2 and T3, respectively. Both initial and final body weight was non-significant among diet groups. Similarly, there was also non-significant effect of goat breed on body weight gain. T
Effect of Formaldehyde Treated Sesame Cake Feeding on Growth Performnce of Growing Female Goats in Fodder based Basal Diet
An experiment was carried out on fifteen growing female goats (50% Barberi 6, Kiko 6 and Khari 6) at the Agriculture Research Station (Goat), Bandipur for 90 days. Female goats of an average six months age and of body weight 7.82 kg were allocated into three groups having five animals in each group by using Complete Randomized Design (CRD). For T1 and T2 concentrate mixture was composed by using procured feed ingredients with 16% crude protein level while T3 was fed with commercial feed. Experimental animals of T1 group was provided forest mixed fodder (adlib) + formaldehyde treated sesame cake included concentrate mixture @ 1.5% of body weight, T2 group was provided forest mixed fodder (adlib) + sesame cake included concentrate mixture @ 1.5% of body weight whereas T3 was provided forest mixed fodder (adlib) + commercial concentrate mixture @ 1.5% of body weight. Experiment revealed that higher intake of concentrate feed was recorded for T3 (139.79 g) followed by T2 (123.1 g) and T1 (116.36 g) which was highly significant (P<0.001) among diet groups. Similarly, fodder intake was noted significantly higher (P<0.001) among diet groups (1425.1 g, 1422.5 g and 1321.4 g for T2, T1 and T3, respectively). Feed intake of different genotypes of goats was found to be non-significant whereas fodder intake was found to be significant (P<0.05) among goat breeds. In addition, feed conversion ratio per kg body weight gain was observed higher for T3 (13.25:1) followed by T2 (12.52:1) and T1 (11.91:1). Likewise, daily crude protein intake was found higher for T2 (82.59 g) followed by T1 (81.4 g) and T3 (79.13g) whereas crude protein expenditure per kg weight gain was found to be higher in T3 (1.6 kg) followed by T2 (1.52 kg) and T1 (1.44 kg) which was none significant among diet groups. Initial body weight of T1, T2 and T3 was 7.55 kg, 8.0 kg and 7.9 kg, respectively that reached 12.95 kg, 12.65 kg and 12.25 kg during 90 days of experiment for T1, T2 and T3, respectively. Both init
Evaluation of Quality Protein Maize (QPM) and Normal Mazie for Growth Performance of Broiler Chicken in Nepal
An experiment was carried out on Cob 500 broiler chickens at Swine and Avian Research Program, Khumaltar, Lalitpur to evaluate the growth performance of broiler chicken fed with normal Vs QPM based diet and with supplementation of synthetic lysine and methionine in both maize for 54 days (16 days starter and 38 days for finisher). The experimental day old birds were procured from Valley Feed, Bajalu, Kathmandu and were allotted into four treatments with three replications having 15 birds in each replication by using Complete Randomized Design (CRD). All experimental birds were vaccinated with F1 vaccine @ one drop / bird against Ranikhet at the first week and vaccinated with IB+ND vaccine against Gumbaro at 2nd and 5th weeks of experiment. Birds of T1 were provided normal maize based diet, T2 normal maize based diet with supplementation of synthetic lysine and methionine, T3 QPM based diet and T4 QPM based diet with supplementation of synthetic lysine and methionine. Concentrate mixture feeding was done on group basis and was provided to the experimental birds of all groups once a day (morning) in adlib amount for both periods (starter – 16 days and finisher – 38 days) of the experiment. Quantity of concentrate mixture given daily to the birds in groups weighed daily and refusal was weighed in the next morning. Experiment revealed that cumulative feed intake was found to be higher in QPM based diet group (5597 g) followed by QPM based diet with supplementation of synthetic lysine and methionine group (5403 g) and normal maize based diet with supplementation with synthetic lysine and methionine group (5377 g). The least feed consumption was recorded for normal maize based diet group (4937 g) which was none significant among diet groups. Similarly, total weight gain was found to be higher for QPM based diet with supplementation of synthetic lysine and methionine group (2180 g) followed by normal maize based diet with supplementation with synthetic lysine and methi
Evaluation of Quality Protein Maize (QPM) and Normal Mazie for Growth Performance of Crossbred Piglets in Wester Hills of Nepal
The pig population of the country is estimated to be 1.1 million and producing 17923 MT meats per annum. The pig farming constitutes the livelihood of rural poor belonging to the lowest socio economic strata and they have no means to undertake scientific pig farming with improved stock, proper housing, feeding and management. Maize is a primary source of energy supplement and can contribute up to 30 percent protein, 60 percent energy and 90 percent starch in animal's diet. About 70- 80 percent of maize production is used as a feed ingredient in the world. QPM is high in energy, low in fiber, and contains approximately 9-12% crude protein with two essential amino acids lysine and tryptophan. Pigs and chicken raised on QPM attained body weight at roughly twice the rate of animal fed with normal maize. Therefore, a study was carried out on growing crossbred male piglets (Landrace x Yorkshire) piglets of 35 days old with body weight of 8 kg at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Lumle, Kaski for 150 days to compare the growth performance of piglets fed with QPM and normal maize. Piglets were allocated into two groups having six piglets in each group by using Complete Randomized Design (CRD). Two types of concentrate mixture were prepared for piglets; starter (18% CP) and grower (16% CP). Piglets of T1 were provided adlib amount of normal maize included concentrate mixture whereas piglets of T2 received QPM included concentrate mixture in adlib amount. Concentrate mixture was provided to the piglets of both groups twice a day for both periods (starter–60 days and grower–90) of experiments. Experiment of 150 days revealed that average feed intake of T2 was higher (1.65kg/day/piglet) than T1 (1.48kg/day/piglet), however, it was not significant (P>0.05), between diet groups. Furthermore, total dry matter intake was higher in T2 (235.12 kg) than T1 (210.9 kg) whereas, feed conversion ratio (FCR) per kg live weight gain was higher for T2 (3.26:1 kg) than T1 (2.6:1 kg)
Growth Comparison of Female Goats Fed with Treated Soybean Cake and Urea Incorporated Concentrate Mixture in Fodder Based Basal Diet in Western Hills of Nepal
The domestic goat (Capra hircus) is significant throughout the world today, fulfilling a number of needs of various cultural groups. Feeding value of treated soybean cake and urea to goats is not evaluated so far. Therefore, a study was carried out on growing female Khari and Jamunapari and Barberi crosses at Agriculture Research Station (Goat), Bandipur, Tanahun. Twelve female kids (4 – Khari, 4 – Jamunapari cross and 4- Barberi cross) just after weaning of age five months with average body weight of 10.08 kg were selected for experiment (150 days) and were divided into two groups having six animals ( 2 animals of each breed) in each group by using Complete Randomized Design (CRD). Two types of concentrate mixture (urea and treated soybean cake incorporated) were formulated with 16% of crude protein content. Dry matter requirement was taken @ 4 kg per 100 kg body weight. All experimental animals were drenched with Fenbendazole @ 5 mg/kg body weight against internal parasites before assigning in experiment. Concentrate mixture was provided to the experimental animals individually @ 1.5% of body weight in plastic vassal once a day in the morning whereas adlib amount of fodder were provided twice a day ingroup (morning and evening). Quantity of concentrate mixture and fodder given daily to the animals was weighed daily and refusal was weighed in next morning. Experimental animal had free access to drinking. Total feed intake by the goats was recorded daily for all experimental periods. The body weight gain of individual animals was measured fortnightly in the morning before feeding. Experiment revealed that average daily intake of concentrate mixture was higher (236.1g) in treated soybean cake incorporated concentrate mixture fed group (T1) than urea incorporated group (215.2 g) (T2) whereas fodder intake was higher in T2 (5.62 kg) than T1 (4.53 kg). Feed intake was no significant between groups and fodder intake differed significantly (P<0.001) between groups. Fe
