This study investigated the effect of roughage replacement in camel diet with tannin containing tree leaves on digestibility, nutrient intake and water intake. Fifteen lactating camels (average BW 554 kg) in mid lactation stage were used to study the impact of tree leaves. Animals were blocked by weight and milk production into 3 groups, where these were offered roughage to concentrate ratio of 70:30. Roughage components included crop residues viz. groundnut straw (GS), guar phalgati (GP) and khejri leaves (KL)/pala leaves( PL) in different ratio. Group T0 fed with GS and GP ratio of 50:50, Group T1 fed with GS, GP and KL ratio of 40:40:20 and Group T2 were offered GS, GP and PL ratio of 40:40:20. Results revealed that DM and OM consumption was lower (P<0.5) in camels fed 20% tree leaves as compared to other groups, but an enhanced CP digestibility referred to economic usage of forage biomass in arid and semi-arid ecology.
Key words: Arid zone, roughage, digestibility, nutrient intake, tree leaves
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