Effects of Supplementation With Pigeon Pea (Cajanus Cajan), Cowpea (Vigna Unguiculata) and Lablab (Lablab Purpureus) on Feed Intake, Body Weight Gain and Carcass Characteristics of Wollo Sheep Fed on Grass Hay
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Date
2015-06
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Addis Ababauniversity
Abstract
An experiment was carried out using sixteen male yearling Wollo Tumele lambs with an average body weight of 18.8±0.35 kg. The objective was to investigate the effect of supplementation with pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), cow pea (Vigna unguiculata) and lablab (Lablab purpureus) on feed intake, body weight change and carcass parameters lambs fed a basal diet of grass hay in a study that lasted for 90 days. The treatments consisted of ad libitum feeding of natural pasture grass hay plus 200 g dry matter (DM) of wheat bran for all groups additional supplementation with 243, 260 or 225 g DM per head per day of pigeon pea, cow pea and lablab for T2, T3 and T4, respectively. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) was used. The experimental lambs were categorized into four blocks of four lambs based on their initial body weight and the four feed treatments were randomly assigned to each animal in a block. There were significant differences (P<0.001) in total DM, CP and NDF intakes between the control (T1) and forage legume supplemented groups (T2, T3 and T4). Grass hay intake was significantly depressed (p<0.001) as a result of forage legumes supplementation. Lambs in the control consumed more DM of grass hay as compared to the legume supplemented groups. Significantly (P<0.001) higher average daily weight gain of 49.36 g/d recorded in lambs supplemented with wheat bran (200 g/d) and lablab (225 g/d). A positive average daily gain (3.1 g/d) was obtained in lambs that received control diet. Feed conversion efficiency (FCE) was higher (P<0.001) in forage legumes supplemented lambs compared to the control lambs. The smallest hot carcass weight (5.08 kg) was recorded for lambs on the control treatment, whereas the highest hot carcass weight (9.60 kg) was recorded for lambs in the group supplemented with lablab (T4). Dressing percentage on slaughter weight (SW) base was significantly higher (P<0.001) in supplemented lambs than the control group. A significantly higher dressed carcass weight (P<0.001) was achieved in forage legumes supplemented lambs compared to the control. A significantly higher (P<0.001) rib eye muscle area was observed in supplemented lambs compared to the control. When the forage legumes protein supplements were ranked based on CP, average daily gain (ADG) and FCE, it was concluded that supplementation of lablab under the feeding condition resulted in the best live weight gain, nutrient intake, carcass traits and economic return of feeding Wollo Tumele lambs.
Keywords, Body weight, cowpea, carcass, feed intake, lablab, pigeon pea, supplementation, Wollo Tumele lambs
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Keywords
Body weight, cowpea, carcass, feed intake, lablab, pigeon pea supplementation, Wollo Tumele lambs