_1776568636 20260419031716000 Rovedar Daryoushbabazadeh@gmail.com Rovedar Farm Animal Health and Nutrition Farm Anim. Health Nutr. 2980-7905 03 28 2026 5 1 Muhammad Shoaib https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8613-8849 Arshad Zahoor https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2136-5458 Ihtisham Ul Haq https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3999-9873 Quratulain Badhana https://orcid.org/0009-0004-3143-5055 Muhammad Tahir Khan https://orcid.org/0009-0001-7590-8756 Farhan Anwar https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2311-8787 Muhammad Nauman Manzoor https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7743-7705 Introduction: Mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) is a protein-rich grain and an important short-duration legume crop widely cultivated in Pakistan. Mung bean haulms (MBH) can be used as a forage for livestock, particularly small ruminants. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of MBH on nutrient intake, digestibility, nitrogen balance, growth performance, and blood biochemical parameters in growing Damani lambs. Methods and materials: Twelve healthy male Damani lambs, weighing 18-20 kg and aged 6-8 months, were randomly assigned to one of four dietary treatment groups in a randomized complete block design, with three lambs per group. The study consisted of a control group fed the basal diet (R1), and three treatment groups fed the basal diet supplemented with 33% MBH (R2), 66% MBH (R3), and 100% MBH (R4) for 90 days. Results: The current result indicated that dry matter intake and crude protein intake increased linearly with MBH inclusion, reaching maximum values in R4 (955.4 g/d and 115.96 g/d, respectively). Apparent digestibility of neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber was significantly higher in R3 and R4 than in R1 and R2. Nitrogen retention was highest in R4 (7.5 g/d), accounting for 38.4% of intake, and lowest in R1. Lambs in R4 achieved the highest final body weight (38.92 kg), total body weight gain (20.90 kg), and average daily gain (232.2 g/d) compared to the control group. Hemoglobin, packed cell volume, red blood cell count, and blood glucose increased significantly with higher MBH levels, while blood urea nitrogen peaked in R3 compared to the control group. Conclusion: Complete replacement of alfalfa with MBH (100%, R4) improved nutrient utilization, growth performance, and metabolic health, also significantly reducing feed costs. 03 31 2026 6 10 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 10.58803/fahn.v5i1.118 https://fahn.rovedar.com/index.php/FAHN/article/view/118 https://fahn.rovedar.com/index.php/FAHN/article/download/118/133 https://fahn.rovedar.com/index.php/FAHN/article/download/118/133 10.56506/PGKE5673 10.1007/s12665-021-09562-1 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2016.12.032 10.1007/s12571-024-01509-1 10.1007/978-3-030-20008-4_1 Heuzé V, Tran G, Bastianelli D, and Lebas F. Mung bean (Vigna radiata). Feedipedia, a programme by INRAE, CIRAD, AFZ and FAO. 2015. DOI: https://www.feedipedia.org/node/235 10.1007/s11250-009-9491-8 10.1111/jpn.13192 10.9734/ejnfs/2024/v16i91546 Malik K, and Dua A. Albendazole. StatPearls [Internet]. 2023. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/books/NBK553082/ 10.2174/1874104501105010004 Asim M, Rashid A, Chaudhary AH, and Noor MS. Production of homologous live attenuated cell culture vaccine for the control of Peste des Petits Ruminants in small ruminants. Pakistan Vet J. 2009; 29(2): 72-74. Available at: https://web.archive.org/web/20171215074533id_/http://www.pvj.com.pk:80/pdf-files/29_2/72-74.pdf University of veterinary and animal sciences (UVAS). Vaccines 2023. Available at: https://www.uvas.edu.pk/facility/QOL/Products/FMD.htm 10.17226/11654 10.1016/j.aninu.2016.12.001 10.3390/toxins14050361 10.1007/978-3-031-31458-2 Association of official analytical chemists (AOAC) (2000). Official methods of analysis. 17th ed. The Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Gaithersburg, MD, USA. 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(91)78551-2 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2006.12.002 10.1111/asj.70094 10.1016/j.livsci.2019.07.022 10.3923/pjn.2016.80.84 10.1016/0377-8401(88)90053-3