Effect of Feeding Roughage Hay on Production Efficiency and Economic Return in Crossbred Sheep

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effect of feeding roughage hay on production efficiency and economic return in crossbred sheep. A completely randomized design was employed on Santa Ines crossbred sheep from 16 animals and divided into 4 groups. The average initial body weights of all animals were 16.87±0.97 kilograms and the average final weight were 23.25±1.07 kilograms under 60 days feeding period. Four groups were fed with fresh grass (para grass) at 3.5 kg/head/day (T1; Control group), para grass hay at 1.5 kg/head/day (T2), ruzi grass hay at 1.5 kg/head/day (T3), and pangola grass hay at 1.5 kg/head/day (T4). All animals received concentrate with 14 %CP 0.2 kg/head/day throughout the period of the study. The results showed that animals in the 4 groups had no difference in weight gain and average daily gain (P>0.05). Total dry matter intakes of groups 1-4 were found to be 2.86±0.08, 1.28±0.09, 1.27±0.09 and 1.34±0.08 kgDM/head/day (P<0.01), respectively. Total dry matter intakes of protein were 0.09±0.01, 0.07±0.01, 0.08±0.01 and 0.10±0.01 kgDM/head/day, respectively (P<0.01). Total dry matter intake per body weight of group 1 was 16.99% of body weight, which was significantly higher than other groups (P<0.01). Blood metabolites such as blood glucose in range 63.94-70.04 mg/dl, and blood urea nitrogen in the range 13.44-17.13 mg/dl were found to be in the normal range (P>0.05). The total production costs per head of the four groups averaged 224.78±3.72, 240.42±3.73, 240.13±3.73 and 245.71±3.72 baht/head (P<0.01) and total production costs per weight gain were found to be 38.78±7.90, 37.93±7.92, 38.85±7.92 and 48.79±7.90 baht/head, respectively.