GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF YANKASA RAMS FED COMPLETE DIETS CONTAINING GRADED LEVELS OF FAIDHERBIA ALBIDA PODS MEAL

Abstract

A feeding trial was conducted for 84 days to evaluate the growth performance and cost of Yankasa rams fed complete diet containing graded levels of apple-ring acacia (Faidherbia albida) pods. Sixteen Yankasa rams of about 5–7 months, weighing averagely 17±1.5kg were randomly allotted to four (4) dietary treatments, four (4) replication in randomized complete block design (RCBD). Animals were fed the complete diets at 3.5% body weight. The results of growth performance revealed no significant (P>0.05) differences in final body (FBC), and feed conversion ratio (FCR). However
Live Weight Change, Average Daily Gain, and Total Feed Intake were significantly (P<0.05) affected. The results obtained from the cost of feed per kilogram live weight gains of inclusion levels of Faidherbia albida Pod meal also indicated significant (P<0.05) differences in the cost per kg live weight gains of diets across the treatments. It is therefore, recommended that farmers can feed a complete diet containing graded levels of apple-ring Acacia (Faidherbia albida) pods up to 30% to Yankasa rams with optimum performance.