~ 295 ~ The Pharma Innovation Journal 2018; 7(3): 295-299 ISSN (E): 2277- 7695 ISSN (P): 2349-8242 NAAS Rating: 5.03 TPI 2018; 7(3): 295-299 © 2018 TPI www.thepharmajournal.com Received: 16-01-2018 Accepted: 17-02-2018 T Parthasarathi Department of Livestock production and Management, PVNR TVU, Hyderabad, Telangana, India A Sarat Chandra Department of Livestock production and Management, PVNR TVU, Hyderabad, Telangana, India DBV Ramana ICAR - Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad, Telangana, India J Raju Department of Animal Nutrition, PVNR TVU, Hyderabad, Telangana, India Correspondence T Parthasarathi Department of Livestock production and Management, PVNR TVU, Hyderabad, Telangana, India Effect of horse gram meal on nutrient digestibility and growth performance in deccani ram lambs T Parthasarathi, A Sarat Chandra, DBV Ramana and J Raju Abstract A growth cum metabolism study of 90 days duration was conducted to know the effect of Horse gram tannins on nutrient utilization, growth performance in Deccani ram lambs. For the study 12 Deccani ram lambs of uniform body weight (16.5±0.64 kg) were randomly allotted to 2 treatments in a completely randomized design and metabolic studies conducted to determine the digestibility of nutrients. The nutrient digestibilities increased (P<0.05) with horse gram meal inclusion. Higher (P < 0.05) Nitrogen, Ca and P balance was observed with horse gram meal inclusion. The increase in the digestibilities of various nutrients reflected in the growth performance of Deccani ran lambs as reflected by higher live weight (P<0.05), average daily gain (P<0.05). Feed efficiency of the animals improved as the feed conversion ratio (kg feed/kg gain) (P<0.01), cost of feed/kg gain (P<0.01) increased. It may be concluded that inclusion of tanniferous protein source increased nutrient digestibilities which reflected in growth performance, feed efficiency and results in reduced cost of production. Keywords: Tannins, Horse gram, nutrients digestibility, growth performance 1. Introduction Small ruminants contribute enormously towards promotion of livelihoods security and as an insurance cover (Pasha, 2000) [1] , (Misra, 2005) [2] to cope with crop failures in the semi-arid, arid and mountainous regions. The small ruminants are favored because of low investments, easy to raise and manage, low feed requirement compared to cattle, ability to thrive on different flora, high disease resistance, and superior market potential. Further, dwindling grazing resources, quantitative and qualitative shortage of feed and fodder resources, disease epidemics and frequent droughts are the major constraints for sustaining a positive growth in the small ruminant sector, especially during dry season (Rao and Ramana 2009) [3] . These grazing materials (natural pasture) and fibrous crop residues are low in nitrogen and high in fiber content. However, tannins have been recognized to modulate rumen fermentation favourably such as reducing protein degradation in the rumen, prevention of bloat, inhibition of methanogenesis and increasing conjugated linoleic acid concentrations in ruminant-derived foods. The inclusion of tannins in diets has been shown to improve body weight and wool growth and reproductive performance (Patra et al, 2011) [4] . In view of the above, the present study is aimed at effect of Horse gram tannins on nutrient utilization, growth performance in Deccani ram lambs 2. Materials and Methods 2.1 Animal, experimental design and management Twelve growing Deccani ram lambs aged 130±3.0 d with average body weight of 16.5±0.64 kg were selected for conducting a growth trial for a period of 90 days at Central Research Institute for Dry land Agriculture (CRIDA) Livestock farm, Hyderabad. These animals were randomly divided in to two groups of six animals in each in a completely randomized design. All the experimental animals were housed in a well-ventilated animal shed with the provision for feeding and watering. The lambs were weighed individually at fortnight intervals before feeding and watering to observe the body weight changes for an experimental period of 90 days. After 60 days of growth trial, a seven days metabolic trial was carried out on lambs to study the digestibility of nutrients in experimental diets. 2.2 Experimental diets The dietary treatments were viz., G I: Basal diet (chopped sorgum stover as roughage source) (BD) + group 1 concentrate+ chopped green fodder (4kg), G II: Basal diet + Group 2