Effect of Replacement of Concentrate Mixture with Leaf Meal on Wool Characteristics of Lambs

A growth trial was conducted on 20 male Corriedale lambs divided into four similar groups to assess the effect of feeding leaf meal at graded levels replacing concentrate mixture in complete rations on wool characteristics for 120 days. Four complete feeds were formulated with oats hay: concentrate mixture in the ratio of 60: 40. The animals of group T1 served as control. In treatments T2, T3 and T4, the concentrate mixture was replaced with 15, 30 and 45% leaf meal, respectively on DM basis. Greasy fleece yield (P<0.01), total wool yield as well as clean wool yield (P<0.05) were highest in T3 group which were statistically at par with those of T1 group. Wool yield/DMI was lowest (P<0.01) for T4, however, fleece weight index was similar among the groups. The staple length of the wool also varied (P<0.01) among the groups which declined from 5.25 cm in T3 to 4.23 cm in T4 group. No difference was observed in fibre diameter, staple crimps and grease of the wool among the four groups. Medullation was not observed in any of the wool samples. It could be concluded that replacement of concentrate mixture with leaf meal at 30% level resulted in better wool yield in sheep.