Evaluation of Substitution of Noug Seed Cake with Pigeon Pea Dried Leaves as a Supplement Feed in Fattening Oxen Based on Teff Straw Basal Diet at Haik Agricultural Research Sub-Center, Ethiopia

Abito Asres

doi:10.7176/jbah/11-2-01

Abstract

The experiment was conducted to evaluate substitution of noug seed cake with dried pigeon pea leaves on feed intake and weight gain of local old oxen. A total of 25 local old oxen (Bos indicus) with 7-8 years old and an initial mean body weight of 300.2±19.25 kg (mean±SD) were used for the study. The experiment was carried out for 105 days including 15 days of acclimatization period. The design employed for this experiment was randomized complete block design with five replications. The dietary treatments were T1= Teff straw ad libtum +Wheat bran + Pigeon pea (25%)+ Noug seed cake(75%) ; T2= Teff straw ad libtum + Wheat bran + Pigeon pea (50%)+ Noug seed cake (50%); T3=Teff straw ad libtum + Wheat bran + Pigeon pea (75%)+ Noug seed cake(25%); T4= Teff straw ad libtum + Wheat bran +Pigeon pea (100%); T5= Teff straw ad libtum +Wheat bran + Noug seed cake (100%). The result showed that crude protein content of Pigeon pea dried leaves (24.47%), noug seed cake (31.92%) and wheat bran (15.98%) can satisfy ruminant production requirement. Total dry matter, teff straw and nutrient intake were statically highly significant (P<0.01, P<0.001, P<0.001) respectively between treatment groups but supplement intake was not statically significant (P>0.05) among treatment groups. The average total DM intakes of all treatment groups were ranged from 7.29 to 8.09 kg/d/head. There were no significant differences(P>0.05) in initial body weight gain, final body weight gain, total body weight gain and average daily body weight gain among different combinations of treatment groups. The average daily weight gain (675.56 g), gross benefit (2159.96 ETB) and marginal revenue 1.11ETB of treatment 2 was higher than other treatment groups. Therefore, it is recommended that fattening of old local oxen using supplement combination levels of teff straw+ wheat bran+ 50%pigeon pea+ 50% noug cake resulted better body weight gain and good benefit. Keywords : Body weight gain; Fattening; Noug seed cake; Old oxen; Pigeon pea DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/11-2-01 Publication date: January 31 st 2021

Highlights

Cattle fattening activity is one of the potential sources for employment opportunity and to increase the volume and quality of meat produced and to alleviate poverty in Ethiopia (Kerstin et al, 2011)
The CP and NDF content of Noug seed cake was higher compared with Pigeon pea dried leaves .This shows that Pigeon pea had low fiber content than Noug seed cake and can improve intake and digestibility
The result indicated that feeding Pigeon pea dried leaves as a supplement for old oxen fully substituted noug seed cake supplementation

Summary

Introduction

Cattle fattening activity is one of the potential sources for employment opportunity and to increase the volume and quality of meat produced and to alleviate poverty in Ethiopia (Kerstin et al, 2011). Cattle fattening has gained prominence as an important business project of the livestock industry in Ethiopia to make use of cheap, plentiful farm by-products (Habtamu et al, 2008). In Ethiopia, productivity of beef is very low which might be related to feed shortage, diseases and parasites, drought, shortage of grazing land, market access, veterinary services, extension services and use low performance local breed (Matawork, 2017). To mitigate problems related to shortage of feed protein deficit in ruminant animals, use of locally available fodder species that can replace purchased concentrates.

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Results

Conclusion