Introduction
Government of Nepal, formerly HMG/N, established in 1982 an institute at Khumaltar, Animal Nutrition Section, with an aim to improve in the existing feeding situation in Nepal by conducting research on animal feedstuff. The Animal Nutrition Section is renamed as Animal Nutrition Division under the NARC system in the Year 1991. It is one of the 16 disciplinary Divisions of NARC and one of the 5 Divisions under National Animal Science Research Institute (NASRI). The Centre has been regularly conducting research on animal feeds and feeding at the centre itself and in collaboration with other Centre, Agricultural Research Stations (ARSs), Commodity Programs and outreach sites in farmer’s field.
Objectives
The main objectives of the Centre are as follows
- Determine the chemical composition of different animal feeds and forages available in various parts of country Find out the cost effective rations for ruminants as well as non ruminants for different levels of productivity
- Increase the utilization of concentrates and roughages for higher livestock production and productivity
- Increase the use and efficiency of supplements (protein, energy, minerals and vitamins) for better growth, production and over all performance of the farm animals and birds
- Develop suitable formula for preparing rations to various classes and species of farm animals birds based on the locally available feed resources including the concentrates and agro-industrial by-produces
- Improve the utilization of non conventional feed resources for ruminants as well as non ruminants
- Develop Nepalese feeding standards for different classes and species of livestock and poultry for their different physiological and production conditions
- Provide supervision and assistance in research planning, formulation and implementation in the areas of animal nutrition at various levels in the country
- Coordination of animal nutrition research activities among different organizations in the country
Research findings
- In lactating dairy cow ration, 25 percent of the concentrate mixture can be replaced by cotton seed meal without any adverse effect in total feed intake, apparent digestibility as well as milk yield and its constituents like fat, total solid (TS) and solid not fat (SNF).
- Feeding urea molasses mineral block to the lactating crossbred dairy cow improves the efficiency of fibrous crop residues utilization and improves milk production.
- In the concentrate mixture of Angorarabbit, maize can be replaced by brewer’s grain and dry apple pulp up to 16 percent without affecting total body weight gain and wool production.
- With supplementation of methionine and lysine (critical amino acids) in broiler chicken ration crude protein level can be reduced to 19 percent from 23 of NRC recommendation in case starter and from 23 to 16 percent in case of finisher without affecting final body weight gain and feed efficiency.
- Daily live weight gain of castrated male goat increases with supplementation of complete mineral mixture in fodder tree leaves based diet.
- Fodder tree leaves could be the green supplement for ruminant animal production during the dry season in straw based feeding system in the hills and foothills.
- Quality protein maize varieties that are available in Nepal are to be crossed with local varieties due to which content of essential amino acids such as lysine and tryptophan is reduced than as mentioned in literatures.
- Therefore, QPM could not exhibit better performance over normal maize on growth performance of growing piglets and broiler chicken.
- Incorporation of 3% urea in concentrate mixture of goats is safe and no adverse effect on animal health.
- Daily supplementation of 300g stylo grass to adult goats reduced the cost of production
- Heat and formalin treatment of soybean cake could not increase bypass protein in goats
- Feeding of Urea Molasses Mineral Block to ruminant animals reduce the methane gas production
- Higher level of concentrate supplementation during 45 to 60 days of late gestation in does is suggested for higher birth weight of kids
- Supplementation of 150 g concentrate mixture with Stylo@ 200 fresh matter in tree foliage feeding as basal diet is suitable to get more meat production under stall feed management system in the hills of Nepal
- Supplementation of rice bran at 20% level is economic in feeding goats with urea treated rice straw based diet and supplemented with 20% of Leucaena
- Banmara can be fed at levels up to 50% of the forage diet without any adverse effect on the growth and reproduction of goats.
- 25% rice straw along with Oat, Berseem and Tanki and concentrate mixture 100g/day can be used in stall feeding management of goats
- Inclusion of 0.25 mg iodine/kg diet of sows ration deficient in iodine content have shown encouraging, result in the piglets birth weight and growth performance before weaning
- 35% soybean meal can be replaced with sunflower meal with enzyme (microzyme) in broiler starter and finisher diets without adverse effect on growth performance of Cobb-500 broilers.
- Supplementation of Toxi check is beneficial as it improved growth, weight gain, feed efficiency, nutrient digestibility and reduced mortality in broiler chickens kept on feed containing mycotoxins
- Herbs as growth promoters can replace antibiotic in the diet of broiler chicken
- Supplementation of liver stimulant (Livoliv 250@ 250g/ton) is beneficial for improving growth, FCR, nutrient digestibility, reducing severity of liver lesions and higher profit in broilers
- Use of anise oil as feed additive at a level of 400 mg/kg diet enhance the performance of broiler chickens and could be considered as potential natural growth promoter for poultry
- Supplementation of 22 percent of crude protein significantly (p<0.01) increased the weight and increase in feed conversion efficiency of broiler chicken
- Supplementation of EM in drinking water of Giriraja at the ratio of 1:3000 is recommended for best economical operation and general well-being of the birds.
Current research activities
- Incorporation of sugarcane tops and bagasse in animal feeds
- Nutritional evaluation of locally available feeds, fodder tree leaves, grasses and legumes.
- Development of complete feed block for ruminant animals.
- Inclusion of bypass protein source in basal diet of dairy animals for increased milk production
- Effect of climate change on nutrient content of fodder and forage
- Inclusion of anise oil (Pimpinelleanisum)and organic acids on growth performance of broiler chicken
- Inclusion of forage pellet in basal diet of dairy animals
Researchers
- Mr. Tulasi Poudel, Senior Scientist (S-4)/Chief
- Ms. Bimala Shah, Scientist (S-1)
- Ms. Rupa Bastola, Technical Officer (T-6)
Contact Address
National Animal Nutrition Research Centre
National Animal Science Research Insitute (NARI)
Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal
Tel: (+977-1) 5523039/5550795 Fax: (+977-1) -4626500
Email: anndnarc@gmail.com
Website: http://www.narc.gov.np