NUTRIENT INTAKE AND GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF GROWING YANKASA SHEEP FED UREA – TREATED AND UNTREATED ACHA (Digitaria exilis) STRAW WITH SUPPLIMENTS

Abstract

Sixteen (16) growing Yankasa sheep with average weight 11-17 kg were used for the experiment which was conducted at National Veterinary and Research Institute Vom, Jos, Plateau state. The animals were randomly assigned to four treatment groups in a complete randomized designed which lasted for 11 weeks. Animals were fed basal diet of untreated and urea treated Acha straw ad libitum with 300g of the supplementary diet which were designated as T1 (untreated acha straw + cotton seed cake and maize bran 50:50), T2 (untreated acha straw + dry poultry litter and maize bran 50:50), T3 (urea treated acha straw + cotton seed cake and maize bran 50:50) and T4 (urea treated acha straw + dry poultry litter and maize bran 50:50).The results of the study reveals that animals fed diet T4 significantly (P<0.05) recorded the highest basal and supplementary diets intake of 618.60 and 241.77g/day, while those fed T1 recorded the least (545.80 and 209.43g/day) Significant differences (p<0.05) were recorded in crude protein intake with highest intake (174.87g/day) recorded in animals
fed diet T3 while those fed T2 recorded the least (78.88g/day). Highest average daily weight gain (ADG) was significantly (P<0.05) recorded in animals fed T4 (136.36g/day) and the least recorded in T1 (49.90g/day). Better feed utilization of 5.60 was recorded in animals fed T4 as compared to those fed T1 with 15.70. Animals fed T4 recorded the highest final body weight with ADG of 136.36g/day. Since utilization of urea treated acha straw with dry poultry litter and maize bran 50:50 as supplement
(which treated) gave the best ADG, it may therefore be recommended in growing Yankasa sheep.