Body Weight Gain and Testicular Growth of Horro Rams Supplemented Concentrate with Lablab purpureus Fed Grass Hay

Abstract

The study was conducted at Ambo University using twenty five Horro sheep with initial body weight of 16.84±0.23kg (mean±SD). The objectives of the experiment was to evaluate Body weight gain and testicular growth of horro rams supplemented concentrate with Lablab purpureus fed grass hay. The experimental sheep were blocked into five blocks of five animals based on their initial body weight and randomly assigned to one of the five treatment diets within a block. The treatments were grass hay fed ad libitum to all treatments plus 100% CM/day (T1, control supplemented), 75%CM: 25%LP/day (T2), 50%CM: 50%LP/day (T3), 25%CM: 75%LP/day (T4), 100%LP/day (T5). The experiment consisted of 90 days feeding trials after quarantine and adaptation period to the environment and experimental feed. Feed offered and refused were recorded throughout the respective study period; while body weight change was recorded at 7 days interval. The CP contents of NSC, LP, WB, MG and GH were 31.1, 21, 18.7, 8.2 and 7.4%, respectively. Organic matter ranged from 87.8% (GH) to 98.1% (MG). The mean intake of basal DM in T5 (523.4±3.13 g/d) was greater (p<0.001) than in T1, T2, T3 and T4 by 86.2, 63.2, 49 and 24.6%respectively. The supplemented animals had higher (p<0.001) total DM intake (860.2-923.4g/d; SEM±3.07) than the control supplemented (837.2±3.07g/d) and the higher (p<0.001) total CP intake of 117.58, 118.79, 120.75 and 122.73 g/d (SE±0.23) for T2, T3, T4 and T5, respectively were recorded than T1 (115.7±0.23 g/d). LP Supplementation improved (P<0.001) final body weight (FBW) and average daily gain (ADG). Lambs fed T5 diet displayed higher (P<0.001) FBW (22.52±0.074kg) and ADG (63.5±0.76g/d) as compared to T1 (20.78±0.07kg) and (41.76±0.76/d) for FBW and ADG, respectively. LP Supplementation significantly increased (P<0.001) scrotal circumference and testicular traits than T1.