SARAT CHANDRA, A (Major)MAHENDER, MGNANA PRAKASH, MRAMANA, D.B.VPARTHASARATHI, THOTA2017-06-102017-06-102013-09http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810019324THESESABSTRACT : The present study was conducted with an aim to study the effect of probiotics supplementation and tanniferous diet inclusion on nutrient utilization, growth performance and enteric emissions in Deccani ram lambs. The experiment was conducted in two phases i.e., in vitro and in vivo study in Deccani ram lambs. During first phase seven probiotic combinations and five tanniferous diets were supplemented to sorghum stover based complete diet and screened for in vitro DM digestibility and in vitro methane production technique. The inclusion of probiotic and tanniferous diets resulted in increased in vitro dry matter digestibilities (IVDMD) and the highest (P<0.01) digestibilities were observed with a combination of probiotics (S. cerevisiae 47 + S. boulardii + L. acidophilus + P. freudenreichii) and horse gram meal as tanniferous protein source, the increase being 3.5 and 3.6 per cent respectively. Similar results were observed with respect to reduction in in vitro methane production and the above combination of probiotics (S cerevisiae47 + S. boulardii + L. acidophilus + P. freudenreichii) and horse gram meal as tanniferous protein source resulted in 4.0 and 3.2 per cent reduction (P<0.05) in in vitro methane production, respectively over group averages. During second phase, eighteen Deccani ram lambs of 130.11±3.00 days of age with an average body weight of 16.5±0.64 kg were randomly allotted to 3 groups in a completely randomized design. The dietary treatments were viz., Group I: Basal diet (chopped sorgum stover as roughage source) (BD) + group 1 concentrate+ chopped green fodder (4kg), Group II: Basal diet + Group 2 concentrate (horse gram as tannin source selected from in vitro studies+ chopped green fodder (4kg), Group III: Basal diet + Group 3 concentrate supplemented with probiotics (S. cerevisiae 47+ S. boulardii + L. acidophilus + P. freudenreichii) selected from in vitro studies @ 4kg per100kg concentrate + chopped green fodder (4kg). Deccani ram lambs were fed the respective diets ad lib. to meet the nutrient requirements (NRC, 2001) throughout 90 days of feeding trial. A metabolic trial of 7 days was carried out after 60 days of feeding trial. Blood was collected at 0, 45 and 90 days of feeding trial to determine the serum mineral status and serum biochemical constituents. Further, the enteric emissions from the lambs was estimated by using a respiratory chamber in an environmental controlled house. The gas samples collected from the chamber were immediately analyzed using gas chromatography (GC). Neither the probiotic supplementation nor horse gram meal inclusion had any effect on Dry matter intakes (DMI) per day and per 100kg body weight. The nutrient digestibilities of DM (P<0.01), organic matter (P<0.02), crude protein (P<0.01), crude fibre (P<0.01), ether extract (P<0.01), nitrogen free extract (P<0.01), neutral detergent fibre (P<0.01), acid detergent fibre (P<0.01), hemicellulose (P<0.05) and cellulose (P<0.01) increased with probiotic supplementation and horse gram meal inclusion. All the experimental animals (growing Deccani ram lambs) met the TDN, digestible energy (DE) and metabolizable energy (ME) requirements as suggested by ICAR (1998). Higher DCP and TDN in ration (P<0.05), and TDN intake (P<0.05) was observed with probiotic supplementation and horse gram meal inclusion. The increase in the digestibilities of various nutrients reflected in the growth performance of Deccani ran lambs as reflected by significantly (P<0.05) higher live weight, average daily (P<0.05) Group II and Group III lambs respectively. 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 in Group II and III. Blood glucose concentration was comparable among the experimental groups, however relatively higher (P<0.05) total proteins, cholesterol, albumin and globulin concentration in blood serum observed with probiotic supplementation and horse gram inclusion. Liver enzymatic activities alkaline phosphatase, SGPT, SGOT were comparable among the experimental groups, however a significant (P<0.05) increase in the mean serum liver enzymatic activities was observed in growing Deccani ram lambs during experimentation than before start of experiment. Mean serum urea and serum creatinine level were statistically non-significant (P>0.05) but lower at the end of experiment. Horse gram inclusion and probiotic supplementation had no significant effect on blood calcium levels but non-significantly increased blood phosphorus levels among the respective groups during the growth period. Serum cobalt, copper, zinc, iron, magnesium and manganese values were comparable among the experimental groups, however a significant (P<0.05) increase was observed in the mean mineral values in growing Deccani ram lambs during experimentation than before start of experiment. A significantly (P<0.01) higher THI and HLI was recorded in March month as compared to February and January and they did not exert any significant effect on dry matter intake and average daily gain in the Deccani ram lambs. However, relatively lower sodium and potassium and higher chloride concentrations were observed in Deccani ram lambs at the end of experiment compared to the start of experiment indicating a mild heat stress on lambs during March. Mean enteric methane emissions (l/day) were significantly (P<0.01) lower in Group II (10.05± 0.39) and III (9.05± 0.47) lambs which received tanniferous horse gram meal and probiotic, respectively than control (11.59± 0.70) lambs (Group I). Tanniferous horse gram meal and probiotics reduced 9.4 and 21.9 per cent of daily methane emissions, respectively in growing Deccani ram lambs. The study indicated that supplementation of probiotic and inclusion of tanniferous protein source increased nutrient digestibilities, growth performance, feed efficiency with no detrimental effect on health of the as reflected in serum metabolites and serum minerals. Further the inclusion of the probiotic and horse gram meal decreased enteric methane emissions, suggesting that the energy loss for ruminants in the form of methane emissions can be reduced efficiently and the animals can be raised in an eco-friendly manner.ennullThesis