Protein supplements increased feed intake and enhanced growth of Yankasa sheep fed Congo grass (Brachiaria ruziziensis)

Abstract

This study compared the feed intake and performance of Yankasa sheep fed Congo grass (Brachiaria ruziziensis) basal diet with different protein supplements of Cotton Seed Cake (CSC), PalmKernel Cake (PKC), Brewer'sDriedGrain (BDG) and sole B. ruziziensis grass (control). Sixteen (16) Yankasa sheep weighing between 21.63 and 22.23kg and aged about 12 months were randomly allotted to treatment diets. The total dry matter and crude protein intake were highest (P<0.05) in sheep on CSC supplement (996.33 and 118.56g) while the control diet had the least feed intake (796.4 and 57.90g).The total live weight gain (TLWG) increased (P<0.05) from 0.91kg in sheep fed Congo grass solely (control) to 2.50kg in those fed Cotton Seed Cake, while feed conversion ratio reduced from 52.50 in Congo grass to 29.15 inCSC treatment. It is concluded from this experiment that Yankasa sheep utilizedCSC better thanPKC,BDGandBrachiaria ruziziensis (control). It is therefore recommended that Brachiaria ruziziensis should be supplemented withCotton SeedCake at a rate of 250g/d for better intake and liveweight in Yankasa sheep production.