Comparison of faecal output by faecal bag and indicator method for determining dry matter intake and pasture utilization in sheep

In a round the year grazing study on cenchrus dominated silvipasture, indic ator and faecal bag methods were compared for estimation of faecal output a nd plane of nutrition in sheep. DM content of diet increased from monsoon t o winter and summer while CP and GE remained similar in the seasons. Faecal output, DM intake and digestibility of DM, CP and GE assessed both by faec al bag and indicator method declined from monsoon to winter and summer. The 2 methods had significant (P<0.01) positive correlation (r = 0.97) and tha t the indicator method could predict with 97% confidence limit the faecal o utput assessed by faecal bag method. The dry matter intake estimated by 2 f aecal collection methods were statistically nonsignificant hence were poole d for predicting DMI. The faecal bag method could predict with 93% confiden ce the DMI in grazing sheep. It is concluded that chromium sesquioxide indi cator method could effectively estimate the total faecal output in grazing sheep. Further, DMI can be predicted with 93% confidence from faecal bag me thod in range managed sheep foraging on vegetation with digestibility rangi ng from 35 to 55%.