Deriving nutrient requirements of growing Indian sheep under tropical condition using performance and intake data emanated from feeding trials conducted in different research institutes

Data from 19 feeding trials conducted on growing sheep from different institutes across India were subjected to regression analysis to derive requirements of TDN, CP and DCP for maintenance and body weight gain. Maintenance requirements for TDN, CP and DCP were 37.0, 6.68 and 4.43 g/kg W0.75, respectively for the BW range of 7–15 kg, and the corresponding maintenance requirements for the BW range of 15.1–30 kg were 35.3, 6.98 and 4.49 g. The corresponding requirements for 1 g gain in BW were 0.91, 0.47, and 0.31 g, for 7–15 kg BW and 1.21, 0.43 and 0.30 g, respectively for 15–30 kg BW range. Regression equations had high r^2 values (0.59–0.84) and the equations (F value) as well as coefficients were highly significant (P<0.001). Regressed values were used to develop feeding standards. Derived values matched well with the actual intake versus performance of animals under diverse feeding conditions. The new standards so derived predicted requirements and intake of nutrients for different production levels better than existing feeding standards; as these are based on a more thorough analysis of a larger database, the new feeding standards will be appropriate for wide use in India.