Effect of Feeding Varying Processed Forms of Peanut Haulms on Growth Performance of Salt Range Lambs in Pothwar Region of Pakistan
Muhammad Fiaz1*, Muhammad Hassan2, Muhammad Mushtaq2,
Tanveer Ahmad1, Syeda Maryam Hussain1, Muhammad Shoaib3,
Muhammad Faizan1 and Muhammad Shakeel4
1Institute of Animal Sciences, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
2Department of Zoology, Wildlife and Fisheries, Faculty of Sciences, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
3Department of Parasitology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
4Department of Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
ABSTRACT
This experiment was planned with main aim to investigate the effect of feeding processed forms of peanut haulms on the production performance of Salt Range lambs under Pothwar region of Punjab, Pakistan. Twelve lambs (4 months old) were randomly assigned to three groups: control, treatment-1, and treatment-2, following a completely randomized design. Each group consisted of four lambs, all naturally grazed under equal conditions, with supplementation of different processed forms of peanut haulm. Lambs were fed unprocessed peanut haulm in control treatment group, whereas chopped peanut haulm in 2nd and ground peanut haul in 3rd treatment group. Collected data were analyzed through ANOVA using SAS 9.3 software under a Completely Randomized Design (CRD), and blood parameters were analyzed using Sigma Plot Software. It was found that feed intake was significantly higher (P<0.05) in lambs fed ground peanut haulms compared to those given untreated or chopped haulms. The same pattern was found in case of lamb’s final weight. Similarly, average daily gain (ADG) was highest (P<0.05) in lambs fed ground haulm (137 ± 10.8 g/day), followed by those given chopped (79 ± 1.0 g/day) and untreated haulms (58 ± 2.3 g/day), though ADG did not differ (P>0.05) between the untreated and chopped groups. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was found significantly better (P<0.05) in lambs on ground haulm i.e. 5.15 ± 0.31 than in those on untreated (7.64 ± 0.05) or chopped haulms (11.86 ± 0.28). Consequently, cost per kg weight gain was significantly lower (P<0.05) in lambs fed ground haulm. No significant differences (P>0.05) were observed in body height or blood parameters among groups. It is concluded that ground peanut haulm was the promising processed form of peanut haulm for optimal growth performance of Salt Range lambs under Pothwar conditions.
Article Information
Received 20 February 2025
Revised 05 April 2025
Accepted 18 April 2025
Available online 19 December 2025
(early access)
Published 13 May 2026
Authors’ Contribution
MF developed the project concept, obtained funding and acted as the principal investigator. MH collected the data physically during all stages of the project. MM played a critical role in project design. TA played a critical role in project document composition. SMH provided scholarly guidance throughout the trial period and critically reviewed the manuscript. MS conducted multiple visits to the research area and assisted in the provision of experimental animals. MF supported the study by analyzing data, preparing tables and writing the results and discussing section. MS analyzed lab analysis and helped in proofreading of the manuscript.
Key words
Peanut Haulm, Salt range lambs, Growth performance, Feed conversion ratio, Dietary supplementation
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.pjz/20250220105100
* Corresponding author: [email protected]
0030-9923/2026/0004-1635 $ 9.00/0
Copyright 2026 by the authors. Licensee Zoological Society of Pakistan.
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
INTRODUCTION
Sheep have evolved into a valuable means of income for farmers in Pakistan, making a substantial share to mutton and fiber production. Normally, lambs are widely raised for sacrificial purposes, often commanding higher values at the occasion of Muslim Annual Festival Eid-Ul-Azha. Lamb production has witnessed a substantial increase worldwide, especially in arid areas in response to the growing needs of the population (Morshedy et al., 2020). Sheep population in Pakistan has been growing at a rate of 1.25% over the past three years, reaching 32.7 million (GOP, 2023-24).
Salt range is a well-known singular fat-tailed sheep breed primarily raised for meat production (Afzal and Naqvi, 2004) and quite prevalent in Pothwar region of northern Punjab comprises four districts: Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, and Rawalpindi. In recent era, farmers in the Pothwar region intend to increase number of this breed not solely for profitable sacrificial occasions but also to meet the demands of restaurants in significant urban hubs like Islamabad and Rawalpindi (Qureshi et al., 2020).
Sheep meat is reported as enriched source of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, protein, essential vitamins, and minerals (Chikwanha et al., 2018; Sohaib and Jamil, 2017). It is also high in conjugated linoleic acid which aids in diabetes prevention and body fat reduction (Schmid et al., 2006). Moreover, lamb meat is also recommended for children’s diets due to its essential fatty acids and lower allergenicity compared to other meats (Nudda et al., 2011). In spite of popularity of Salt Range lambs in Pothwar region, producers face serious challenges; lamb mortality due to malnutrition (Fiaz et al., 2022). Due to forage scarcity especially during drought environment conditions, animals graze on low quality pastures and crop residues like wheat straw with little or no concentrate supplementation which may impacted sheep performance by their poor nutritional quality, DMI and limited digestibility (Khan and Habib, 2012). But, prices of wheat straw are progressively increasing due to its multiple usage in animal feeding, fuel burning and paper industry touches at its peak during winter season. Keeping in view the importance of feed availability for adequate lamb growth, it is the dire need to explore some other feeding resource specifically in Pothwar region of Punjab.
Pothwar region is blessed with abundant peanut production in the area (Shah et al., 2012). Left over plant material after peanut harvesting has the great feeding value high in CP 11.4% which may be fed as supplement (Yami, 2008; Etela and Dung, 2011) or either fresh, dried or ensiled (Hill and Ballinger, 2004). Feeding peanut haulms for adequate body growth is also reported (Fiaz et al., 2022; Etela and Dung, 2011). Peanut is a leguminous crop due to its nutritional worth, palatability and its contribution to soil fertility through nitrogen fixation ability (Konlan et al., 2013). It can be fed either sole or as supplementary diet (Prasad et al., 2010; Ayantunde et al., 2017) to increase the productivity of sheep’s growth. Keeping in mind the nutritional importance of peanut haulms, this study aimed to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of processed forms of peanut haulms on growth performance of Salt Range lambs under Pothwar environment conditions. The specific objective was to identify the most cost-effective processing method based on cost per kilogram of weight gain.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Location of study area
The experiment was conducted at the University Research Farm, Koont, along Mandra-Chakwal Road, Tehsil Gujar Khan, District Rawalpindi. The site, located at 33.11677 latitude and 73.01149 longitude (Google Maps), has a semi-arid climate with hot summers, mild winters, and moderate rainfall.
Experimental treatments
Twelve lambs, 4 months old and similar body condition were selected from the Salt Range flock at University Research Station Koont and randomly allocated to three groups following a completely randomized design, comprising the control group (To), second treatment group (T1), and third treatment group (T2). All experimental animals were naturally grazed in the field and treated equally. However, experimental animals were supplemented with different types of processed peanut haulm. The feed of lambs in the control group (To) was added with unprocessed or raw peanut haulm, whereas animals in T1 and T2 were given chopped peanut haulm and ground peanut haulm, respectively. The experiment period was executed during Feb-March, 2023 which was comprised of 60 days with additional 10 days adaptation time, prior to trial.
Data collection
The lambs were weighed prior to the start of the trial, and their weights were recorded weekly using a digital dial balance. Body measurements were taken on a fortnightly basis using measuring tape method. Blood samples were collected monthly from the jugular vein into EDTA tubes. These samples were stored in an ice cooler to ensure safe transport to the laboratory for analysis. The survival rate of the lambs was determined by tallying the number of live and deceased animals and calculating the percentage.
Parameters studied
The effects of differently processed peanut haulms were evaluated based on feed intake, average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), feed economics, body measurements, and blood parameters. A complete blood analysis was conducted at Biotech Commercial Lab, including total leukocyte count (TLC), red blood cell (RBC) count, hemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume/Hematocrit (PCV/HCT), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), platelet count, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes and eosinophils. Additional blood parameters included total protein, liver function tests (LFTs) such as total bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT/SGPT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALK-Phos); renal function tests (RFTs) including blood urea, creatinine, and uric acid; and lipid profile parameters such as serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides, serum high-density lipoprotein (S-HDL) cholesterol and serum low-density lipoprotein (S-LDL) cholesterol.
Statistical analysis
The data were analyzed through ANOVA technique using SAS 9.3 software under a Completely Randomized Design. Blood parameters were evaluated with Sigma Plot Software and the Duncan Multiple Range Test was used for mean comparisons.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Effect of feeding different processed forms of peanut haulms in Salt Range lambs was determined through the following parameters.
Feed intake
The feed intake of Salt Range lambs given ground peanut haulms was higher (P<0.05) than that of those fed untreated and chopped peanut haulms (Table I). The higher intake of ground peanut haulms might have been attributed to the softened straw texture and smaller particle size. Consumption of ground straw feed may be enhanced in small ruminants as physical form plays a substantial role in feed consumption, and smaller particles might be easier to chew and digest, ultimately leading to higher feed intake (Findeisen et al., 2021).
Findings of this study regarding higher feed consumption in ground peanut haulms were also supported by previously published literature. The ground form of peanut haulms might enhance feed intake in sheep due to improved palatability and nutrient absorption (Tsafiyo et al., 2022), whereas it may also increase growth performance (Ansah et al., 2017) and overall productivity (Ayantunde et al., 2007). However, a few studies have reported that animals might not increase feed intake if fed peanut haulms exclusively (Prasad et al., 2010). The reason for this contradiction might be differences in breed and environmental conditions.
Average daily weight gain
Lambs fed ground peanut haulms had the highest ADG (P<0.05) at 137 ± 10.8 g/day, followed by those fed chopped haulms at 79 ± 1.0 g/day and untreated haulms at 58 ± 2.3 g/day. However, there was no significant difference (P>0.05) in ADG between lambs fed untreated and chopped haulms (Table I). The findings of this study revealed that processing peanut haulms into a ground form enhanced its nutritive value and subsequent animal growth performance compared to untreated or chopped haulms.
Previously published literature has supported the findings of the present study. ADG in lambs was reportedly improved by the supplementation of peanut haulm-based diets (Sallam et al., 2020). Similarly, another study by Abdou et al. (2011) substantiated that supplementing groundnut haulms increased lamb weight gain. The improved ADG in Salt Range lambs fed ground peanut haulms might have been attributed to better fiber digestibility due to the mechanical breakdown of cell walls, which could enhance microbial action during the digestion process.
Table I. Effect of dietary supplementation of different processed forms of peanut haulm on growth performance of Salt Range lambs (Mean ± SE).
|
Parameters |
To (Control) |
T1 |
T2 |
|
Feed intake (g/d) |
691.66±11.25a |
621.33±8.95b |
678.00±14.87a |
|
ADG (g/d) |
58.33±2.33b |
79.00±1.00b |
137.33±10.86a |
|
FCR (ratio) |
11.86±0.28a |
7.64±0.05b |
5.15±0.31c |
|
Feed economics (PKR/kg) |
118.64±2.89a |
76.49±0.59b |
51.52±3.19c |
abc Means with varying superscripts in rows are different (P<0.05). ADG, average daily gain; FCR, feed conversion ratio.
To (Control): Untreated peanut haulm; T1: Chopped peanut haulm; T2: Ground peanut haulm
Some researchers have, however, reported different findings. Yin et al. (2024) substituted soybean meal with peanut meal in lamb diets and found that it did not significantly impact ADG. This contradiction might be due to substitution rather than processing. The non-significant difference in ADG between untreated and chopped peanut haulms might have been attributed to minimal structural alterations in fiber composition. It is inferred that mechanical breakdown or grinding of forage might significantly improve its digestibility by enhancing its degradation characteristics (Hovell et al., 1987).
Feed conversion ratio (FCR)
FCR was found to be optimal for Salt Range lambs given ground peanut haulms and lower (P<0.05) than that of groups given untreated and chopped haulms. Furthermore, FCR was also lower (P<0.05) in animals given chopped peanut haulms than in those fed a control diet (untreated peanut haulms). It was observed (Table I) that lambs fed ground peanut haulms had the optimal FCR, suggesting that crushing could enhance feed efficiency in lambs. Previously, Qiongli (2005) reported that incorporating processed peanut haulms in lamb diets might improve feed efficiency by increasing growth performance and economic returns. The promising FCR in lambs fed ground peanut haulms might have been attributed to increased degradation of fiber components, facilitating better nutrient absorption and reducing wastage. However, chopping only reduced particle size without substantially altering fiber integrity, whereas crushing might have damaged cell walls and enhanced ruminal fermentation efficiency. Consequently, mechanical processing could substantially influence ruminal fermentation and digestibility, which are key factors in improving the feed conversion ratio (Ferreira et al., 2019).
Feed economics
Feed economics in terms of cost per kg weight gain was found to be significantly lower (P<0.05) in Salt Range lambs offered ground peanut haulms compared to those fed untreated and chopped peanut haulms. These findings are in line with a previously published study indicating that peanut haulm feeding could be a better option to enhance production efficiency and reduce feeding costs, ultimately making it a cost-effective choice for rearing lambs (Adu and Lakpimi, 1983). Peanut haulm could be an economical feeding resource with good nutritional value and could help reduce production costs (Ayantunde et al., 2007).
However, transportation from distant areas might increase its initial supplementation costs if locally unavailable (Raineri et al., 2015). Contrary to our findings, Hossain et al. (2023) reported that peanut haulms may not always be the most economical option when formulating a balanced ration. This discrepancy might be due to differences in ecological zones.
Body measurements
Body measurements of lambs in terms of body height, length, and heart girth were not influenced (P>0.05) by the dietary supplementation of different processed forms of peanut haulms (Fig. 1). The possible reason might have been the shorter duration of the study, which may not have been sufficient to impact skeletal growth or body conformational traits within the experimental period (i.e., 60 days).
These findings are supported by previously published literature, which indicated that different dietary supplementation regimes might not significantly influence body measurements (Chaturvedi et al., 2003; Padeanu et al., 2008). This highlights that body measurements could be more genetically determined and less influenced by dietary factors. Skeletal growth is a long-term process regulated by genetic and hormonal factors rather than short-term dietary interventions. Genetic mutations in the fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 have been found to influence skeletal growth and frame size in sheep (Smith et al., 2006). Further investigations are recommended to authenticate the impact of dietary supplementation on skeletal growth and structural development in small ruminants.
Blood parameters
Dietary supplementation of different processed forms of peanut haulms in salt range lambs did not significantly influence various blood parameters. The reason might have been that peanut haulms are an alternative roughage source, and their dietary supplementation may not alter key physiological parameters, including the complete blood picture, clinical chemistry, liver function tests (LFTs), renal function tests (RFTs), and lipid profile.
Some published studies have supported these findings, reporting that while peanut haulm supplementation affects growth performance, it does not have a significant impact on blood metabolites, suggesting that essential metabolic functions remain stable across different dietary treatments (Fiaz et al., 2022). However, further research is needed to assess the long-term impact and potential benefits of peanut haulm supplementation on overall health and immunity in lambs.
Table II. Effect of dietary supplementation of different processed forms of peanut haulm on blood parameters in Salt Range lambs (Mean).
|
Parameters |
To (Control) |
T1 |
T2 |
|
Haematological parameters |
|||
|
TLC (cumm) |
10212 |
10220 |
10217 |
|
RBC count (million/cmm) |
2.52 |
2.48 |
2.54 |
|
Haemoglobin (g/dl) |
7.2 |
7.5 |
7.4 |
|
PCV/HTC (g/dl) |
8.44 |
8.34 |
8..40 |
|
MCV (fl) |
37.68 |
37.77 |
37.59 |
|
MCH (pg) |
33.73 |
33.33 |
33.78 |
|
MCHC (g/dl) |
74.36 |
74.40 |
74.29 |
|
Platelet count (cumm) |
10322716 |
1032610 |
103227520 |
|
Neutrophils (%) |
56 |
53 |
55 |
|
Lymphocytes (%) |
40 |
42 |
45 |
|
Monocytes (%) |
9.62 |
6.55 |
6.69 |
|
Eosinophils (%) |
7.5 |
7.5 |
7.3 |
|
Protein count (g/dl) |
6.78 |
6.69 |
6.75 |
|
Renal function test |
|||
|
Blood urea (ml/dl) |
38 |
39 |
36 |
|
Creatinine (mg/dl) |
1.17 |
1.15 |
1.15 |
|
Uric acid (mg/dl) |
4.75 |
4.70 |
4.72 |
|
Liver function test (LFTs) |
|||
|
Total bilirubin (mg/dl) |
0.71 |
0.70 |
0.73 |
|
ALT (SGPT) (U/L) |
21 |
22 |
20 |
|
ALK-Phos (U/L) |
220 |
222 |
218 |
|
Lipid profile |
|||
|
S. cholesterol (mg/dl) |
124 |
126 |
122 |
|
S. triglycerides (mg/dl) |
89 |
91 |
90 |
|
SHDL cholesterol (mg/dl) |
28 |
30 |
29 |
|
SLDL cholesterol (mg/dl) |
93 |
94 |
95 |
TLC, total leucocytic council; RBC, red blood cell; PCV, packed cell volume; HTC, hematocrit; MCV, mean corpuscular volume; MCH, mean corpuscular hemoglobin; MCHC, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration; ALT, alanine transaminase; ALK-Phos, alkaline phosphatase; SHDL, serum high density lipoprotein; SLDL, serum low density lipoprotein.
For other abbreviations, see Table I.
Conclusion
It was concluded that processing peanut haulm through grinding significantly enhanced its potential as a valuable feed resource for improving the growth performance of Salt Range lambs raised under Pothwar conditions. The grinding process made the haulm more digestible and easier to consume, thereby increasing nutrient availability and overall feed efficiency. Based on the findings, it was inferred that crushing peanut haulm into ground form enhanced feed intake, digestibility, and ADG, and improved FCR, thereby reducing feed costs.
Declarations
Acknowledgements
Special thanks are due to staff of Koont Research Farm, PMAS -AAUR for providing the research facilities and animals required for the research.
Funding
This study was financially supported by the Pakistan Science Foundation, Islamabad, Pakistan, under Project No. PSF/NSLP 861.
Ethical approval
This study was approved by the Department of Livestock Production and Management (Protocol number DLPP/272/27-11-2023). The selected animals were ensured all five freedoms, which included adequate access to food and water, freedom from stress and illness and the ability to express their natural behaviors within suitable and protected environments. During the day, the animals were allowed to graze freely on the range while in the evening, they were housed in small ruminant shelters under consistent housing and management practices.
Generative AI and AI-assisted technology statement
The authors declare that they have not used generative AI or AI-assisted technologies in the writing or editing of this manuscript.
Statement of conflict of interests
The authors have declared no conflict of interest.
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