Nutrient intake and energy requirement of Marwari mares at maintenance.

Abstract

Investigation was carried out to derive nutrient intake and requirement of Marwari mares at maintenance. Adult Marwari mares (n=6, mean body weight 380.71±11.16 kg) fed with 4.0 kg of gram-oats based concentrate mixture and 10.0 kg chaffed sewan hay per animal for 45 days. The total average intake of nutrients by the animals were 8.33±0.75 kg dry matter, 0.68±0.34 kg crude protein, 498.51 g DCP, 4.19 kg TDN and 18.48 Mcal DE per animal per day. The per cent digestibility of nutrients in these mares were 61.08 ±0.88 (DM), 69.83±1.09 (CP), 67.82 ±0.37 (EE), 86.89±0.67 (NFC) and 43.48±0.59 (NDF), respectively. During the trial average body weight gain per animal was 14.14±4.18 kg and there was increase in average body condition score from 5 to 6, which indicates that the feed given to the animals was sufficient enough to maintain their body weight and for further successful breeding and to carry viable foetus.