Preference of sheep for three forms of mucuna forage and the effect of supplementation with mucuna forage on the performance of sheep.

Abstract

Assessment of the preference of sheep for fresh, dried or ensiled forms of mucuna (Mucuna pruriens var utilis) forage was followed by investigations into the effect of supplementing straw-based diets with the forage. Four sheep were offered fresh, dried and ensiled forms of the forage in a cafeteria style to assess their preference. In the second experiment, 20 sheep were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments, namely, alkali-treated straw only (M0), treated straw supplemented with mucuna forage at 0.3% (M10), 0.6% (M20) or 0.75% (M25) of body weight (approximately 10%, 20% and 25%, respectively, of the total dry matter intake). The daily feed intakes were determined and the sheep were weighed weekly for 10 weeks. The sheep showed a marked preference for fresh mucuna forage over either the dried or ensiled forms. The total dry matter intake increased by 15% and 21%, respectively, with M20 and M25. All the groups lost weight over the feeding period. However, only M0 gave weight losses during the second half of the feeding period. The feed conversion efficiency followed a trend similar to that for weight gains. M20 had the greatest effect on growth and feed conversion efficiency.