<i>Acacia nilotica</i> Leaf Meal - Potential Supplement to 25% Dorper Crosses of Local Sheep Fed a Basal Diet of Natural Pasture Hay

Abstract

This research was undertaken to evaluate the replacement potential of dried leaf meal of Acacia nilotica for noug seed cake (NSC) to supplement the low quality grass hay in the diet of crossbred (25% Dorper) sheep. In doing so, four treatments were set up in such a way that 0% (T1), 33% (T2), 67% (T3), and 100% (T4) NSC is replaced with dried leaf of Acacia nilotica from a conventional supplement while the treatments were kept isonitrogenous. The experiment was arranged in Randomized Complete Block Design where twenty animals were allocated to the four treatments. The experiment consisted of hundred days of feeding trial followed by evaluation of carcass components at the end. In view of chemical composition, grass hay contained lower crude protein (CP) and high cell wall contents that makes it lower quality feed. On the other hand, Acacia nilotica leaf meal was moderate in quality that can support moderate level of ruminant production. The maximum inclusion level of Acacia nilotica was 61.3% or 319.2 gram per day for 25% Dorper cross sheep fed natural pasture hay as a basal diet. Partial and complete replacement of NSC with Acacia nilotica leaf meal significantly increased TDMI (P < 0.001) and as a result average daily gain was higher for leaf meal supplemented groups. Dressing percentage was also tended to be greater for treatments where NSC was replaced by Acacia nilotica leaf meal. Hot carcass weight was in the range of 14.8 to 17.8kg which is higher than the national average carcass weight for Ethiopian sheep and it was also found to be higher when NSC was partially (33%) as well as completely replaced by the leaf meal. In general, NSC can be replaced either partially or completely with Acacia nilotica leaf meal in the diet of 25% dorper crosses while weight gain as well as carcass yield is promoted.