EFFECT OF FEEDING FREQUENCY ON DRY MATTER INTAKE WEIGHT GAIN FEED CONVERSION EFFICIENCY AND ITS RELATION WITH BODY MEASUREMENTS IN LOHI LAMBS

Due to high basal metabolic rate, the small ruminants need more frequent feeding than large ruminants. Lohi is one of potential mutton breed of Pakistan. A study was conducted to evaluate the growth performance correspond to feeding frequency in Lohi lambs, keeping in view the prevailing feeding pattern i.e. once per day during intensive feeding as opted by the livestock farmers. Lohi lambs were raised on more than one feeding frequencies regarding least cost basis. It was noted that with the increase in feeding frequencies, dry matter intake/kg/day was increased. Statistically, results of weekly weight gain showed significant (P<0.05) difference among various treatments (A, B and C). Similarly, feed conversion efficiency for all the groups of lambs also showed a significant (P<0.05) difference. The data collected on the morphometric measurements (heart girth, HG; body length, BL) of Lohi lambs for all treatment groups showed a significant (P<0.05) difference. The range lands which were easily available for grazing by small ruminants are reducing at the rate of 2% per decade. There is immense need to explore intensive rearing of small ruminants by adopting different strategies of offering feed to their animals best suited in tropical environment. The study proved that farmers should adopt three times feeding strategy to their small ruminants to get maximum growth performance.