Feed intake, digestibility and growth performance of Begait sheep kept under different feeding options

Abstract

Thirty intact growing lambs were used to evaluate feed intake, digestibility and growth performance of Begait sheep breed kept under different feeding options. Animals were used in randomized completely block design with three dietary treatments in ten replicates. Treatments were grass hay fed ad libitum to all treatments plus a mixed diet of 48% wheat bran, 15% molasses, 35% cotton seed cake, 1% salt and 1% limestone (T1); 43% wheat bran, 20% sorghum grain, 35% Noug seed cake, 1% salt and 1% limestone (T2) and 47% wheat bran, 16% molasses, 35% sesame seed cake, 1% salt and 1% limestone (T3). Sheep in T3 (1123 g DM/day) consumed more feed (P < 0.001) as compared to sheep in T2 (1077 g DM/day) and T1 (1057 g DM/day). Higher apparent digestibility of DM, OM, CP, NDF and ADF were obtained in T3 groups than in the other treatment groups (P < 0.05). Average daily gain was significantly higher for T3 (158 g/day) than T2 (120 g/day) and T1 (118 g/day) (P < 0.001). Diet 3 was better as compared to the other feeding options.

Effect of dietary supplementation of duckweed on growth performance, carcass and non-carcass traits of horro rams fed on a commercial-based diet

“…In the current study, FCE was increased with the inclusion level of supplementary duckweed; which is high in crude protein content. This agreed with the idea that feed conversion efficiency increases with the ratio of diets that promote a high rate of body gain [ 29 ].…”

“…The total dry matter intake as a proportion of percent body weight and per unit metabolic body weight basis have no variation (P > 0.05) across the three treatments. The current TDMI as a proportion of percent body weight ranged from 3.74 – 3.83%, which was slightly higher than the value of 2.48–2.55% BW for Begait lambs kept under different feeding options reported by Kahsu, [ 29 ]. The current result (3.74–3.83%) agrees with ARC [ 30 ] which recommends the range of dry matter intake for ruminants (3–5% of their body weight).…”

The Effect of <em>Momordica foetida</em> Inclusion on Feed Intake, Digestibility, Growth Performance and Economic Efficiency of Bonga Sheep Fed on <em>Desho</em> (<em>Pedicellatium glocifolium</em>) Grass Hay as a Basal Diet

“…The current study's total dry matter intake was higher than previous studies (839-886 g/d) [13]. Instead, the current dry matter intake was lower than [14] total dry matter intake of (1330.7g-1400.9 g) but comparable to Desta's [15] total dry matter intake of (416.25g-919.96 g/kg DM /d). Variations in different results, including this finding, could be attributed to animal breed, forage type, microclimate, and feed preparation.…”

A Review of Studies on Improvement of Sheep Resilience to Climate Change Stresses

“…The amount of feed needed to produce a unit of milk in sheep can vary based on several factors, including the breed of sheep, their nutritional requirements, management practices, and environmental conditions [29]. On average, FCR values for milk production in dairy sheep can range from 4 to 6 kg of dry matter feed intake per kg of milk produced [21].…”