Feeding sorghum stover to ethiopian sheep: effect of chopping and amount offered on growth, intake and selection

Abstract

Aboud et al (1990) found that intake and selectivity of sorghum stover by Ethiopian sheep increased as the ad 1ibitum amounts offered (g/kg mass[M].day[d]) were increased from 25 to 50 and 75; the largest improvement in intake occurred with increasing the amount offered from 25 to 50 g/kg M.d. In the study by Aboud et al (1990), the stover offered was in chopped form. The present study investigated the effect of chopping per se, with stover offered at 25 or 50 g/kg M.d.Following hand-harvesting of sorghum grain (non bird-resistant variety Dinkamash) in mid-November 1989, the stover (straw) was hand-cut from the field in mid-January 1990 and stored indoors until feeding in May. Forty eight Menz Highland rams of 17.2 kg initial M and ca.15 months of age were fed 113 g dry matter [DM]/ram.d of cottonseed cake and ad libitum sorghum stover over 56 d; salt licks were also provided.