Sultan Singh et al., 2010. Livest. Res. Rural Dev., 22 (5): 93

A 105 days growth experiment was conducted to evaluate the milled dry lablab grains (LLG) as alternate protein source to ground nut cake (GNC) in ration of kids. For this, 15 kids of local goat breed (Bundelkhandi) were divided into 3 groups (LL0, LL50 and LL100) of 5 animals each and were offered a dry grass based diet (mixed grasses; Cenchrus ciliaris, Sehima nervosum and Dicanthium annulatum) ad lib and concentrates to meet their nutritional requirements. In LL0 (control) concentrate mixture GNC was the sole protein source, whereas in LL50 and LL100, 50 and 100 % of the GNC was replaced by LLG on N basis, respectively. After 60 days feeding, a digestion -cum metabolism trial (7d) was conducted to determine feed intake, nutrients digestibility, nutritive value, N balance along with rumen fermentation and growth rate. Rumen liquor samples were collected at the end of trial, while body weights were recorded at 15 days interval.   Crude protein (CP) and ether extract (EE) contents were lower in LLG (27.50 and 1.60) than GNC (33.7 and 4.50 %). LLG supplementation did not influence (P>0.05) the intake, while roughage intake (%) was (P>0.05) higher in LL100 (1.91) than LL0 (1.6). Concentrate intake (%) in 30 minutes of feeding was higher (P<0.05) in LL50 (88.2) and LL100 (96.8) than LL0 (80.1). However the meal size (g/2 h) was comparable amongst the dietary groups. Digestibility (%) of DM, OM, NDF, ADF and cellulose were comparable (P>0.05), while LLG supplementation increased (P<0.05) CP digestibility in LL50 (73.5) and LL100 (73.4) compared to GNC in LL0 (67.4%). In sacco DMD of LLG (95.3) was higher (P<0.05) than GNC (74.8%). Digestible crude protein (DCP) and total digestible nutrients (TDN) contents were comparable among dietary groups. Digestible energy (DE) contents were 2.9, 2.8 and 3.2 K cal/g DM in LL0, LL50 and LL100, respectively. N balance tended to increase (P>0.05) in LLG supplemented group. N balance (% of absorbed) was significantly (P<0.05) higher in LL50 (61.50) and LL100 (54.3) than LL0 (36.9). Inclusion of LLG in the ration of LL50 and LL100 increased (P>0.05) growth rate of kids and it varied from 33.4 to 39.7 g/d across groups. Total-N and total volatile fatty acids (TVFA) production was higher (P>0.05) in LL50 (112 and 164) and LL100 (110 and 163) than LL0 (96.2 mg/100 ml and 147 mmol/l.).   LLG can substitute GNC as protein source in the concentrate mixture of kids with positive associative effect on roughage intake, nutrient utilization, rumen fermentation and body growth with better N utilization.