Abstract
Ninety six Rambouillet ${\times}$ Kaghani intact male lambs of 18 months of age were divided into 6 groups of 16 lambs each, groups being G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, G-5 and G-6. Average liveweight of animals on different treatments at day 0 of the experiment was G-1 (24.68 S.D 3.35), G-2 (24.56 S.D 2.55), G-3 (24.53 S.D 2.90), G-4 (24.51 S.D 3.38), G-5 (24.58 S.D 3.58) and G-6 (24.81 S.D 3.43). Animals on treatment G-1 were fed only maize silage ad libitum, G-2 had been offered maize silage ad libitum plus 4.8 kg of commercial concentrate (Sona Vanda) per group, G-3 maize silage ad libitum plus 4.8 kg of crushed maize grain per group. G-4 lambs were fed oat silage ad libitum plus 4.8 kg of crushed maize per group, G-5 oat silage plus 4.8 kg of commercial concentrate per group and G-6 only oat silage ad libitum. The results showed highly significant differences (p<0.01) among treatment groups in silage intake throughout the feeding trial. G-2 group showed the highest silage intake while treatment G-4 showed the lowest silage intake for the first two months and treatment G-6 for the last two months. The results of growth rates (g/d/animal) showed that treatments G-1 and G-6, where no supplementation was given, had a weight loss throughout the feeding trial. However, weight loss in treatment G-6 was more severe than treatment G-1. Treatments G-2, G-3, G-4 and G-5 all showed weight gain however, treatment G-2 had the most gain. G-2 group also showed the highest wool production while G-6 the lowest. These results indicated that silage when made from full bloom crops of oats and silage fed alone without any supplementation causes weight loss in sheep. Supplementation with concentrates having 19% CP is far better than the crushed maize grain and maize silage is better than oats silage. Maize silage is superior than oat silage however, better performance could be expected if silages were made at the early bloom (dough) stage of plant maturity. The results indicate that treatment G-2 shows highest response while treatment G-6 the lowest. So the response of different treatments on both the parameters of weight gain and wool production is almost similar.