Effect of feeding expander extruder processed sunflower heads based complete diets on performance, nutrient digestibility and carcass characteristics of lambs

Expander extruder pelleted complete diet (EEP) formulated with 50% deseeded dried sunflower heads (SFH) as roughage source along with 10% sorghum straw was compared with a conventional diet (concentrate mixture and chopped maize hay) by feeding to 24 Nellore ram lambs reared under intensive system for 180 days. Fortnightly body weights, feed intake, feed efficiency and nutrient digestibilities in lambs fed EEP diet was comparable to conventional diet except for higher (P<0.01) crude protein, crude fibre, acid detergent fibre and cellulose digestibility. Dressing percentage, yield of wholesale cuts, water, protein and ash content in Longissimus dorsi muscle were not affected, while fat content in muscle lowered by 17.7% in lambs fed EEP diet. Feed cost/kg gain or per kg edible meat lowered by Rs. 1.30 and 4.12, respectively with EEP diet compared to conventional diet. The results indicated that SFH could be incorporated at 50% level in complete diets of growing lambs and its feeding improved the daily weight gains by 12.9% and reduced the cost of feed per kg edible meat by 7.59% than conventional diet.