Effect of feeding wormwood herb (Artemisia absinthium Linn.) added total mixed ration on wool production and quality in sheep

Abstract

ABSTRACT Emphasis over organic livestock production has resulted in increased interest in natural products. This study aims to evaluate dietary incorporation effect of wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) herb on wool characteristics and economics in sheep. In vitro assay was conducted to determine effective inclusion levels of feed additives followed by in vivo feeding trial for three months on crossbred (15) sheep distributed into three groups: control (Con) fed basal diet, groups fed diet added with 4.50% herb either alone (Hrb) and with 0.60% exogenous fibrolytic enzymes (EFE) (HrbEz), the levels chosen on basis of the best results of in vitro assay. Toward end of feeding trial, six days digestibility trial was conducted after which animals were shorn. Wormwood herb inclusions had significant (P < .05) positive effect on digestible nutrient contents and their intakes. Greasy and clean wool yields were higher (P < .05) resulted in lowering cost of wool production to the tune of 11.3% in Hrb and 22.2% in HrbEz group compared to control with no difference for all fiber quality characteristics except fiber length. It was concluded that incorporation of 4.50% wormwood herb with 0.60% of EFE in diet of sheep resulted in better wool growth economically with no adverse effect on quality.