Effect of Slow Release Urea Supplementation (Optigen® ) on the Production Performance of Kaghani sheep

The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of slow release urea supplementation (Optigen®) on the growth performance of grazing Kaghani sheep with special reference to weight gain, fleece weight and wool quality. Thirty healthy post-weaned male lambs of Kaghani sheep were selected and divided into two groups viz Group-A (treated group) and Group-B (control group) containing fifteen animals each. Sheep in both groups were kept on grazing and maize silage feeding ad libitum; however sheep in group A were additionally supplemented with Optigen® at the dose rate of 10 grams/animal twice a day for 60 days. The animals were weighed individually at the start of experiment and weekly thereafter. Sheep were shorn at the end of experiment and fleece weight was recorded. The fiber types were determined by Benzol method before and after the experiment. Average body weight and fleece weight of animals treated with Optigen® was significantly (P<0.05) higher as compared to control group. True, kemp and modulated fiber’s quality was significantly (P<0.05) improved except heterotypical fiber with the Optigen® supplementation. It was concluded that slow release urea supplementation (Optigen®) with maize silage feeding was effective in increasing body weight, fleece weight and wool quality in growing lambs.