SHEEP PRODUCTION SYSTEMS IN URBAN AND PERI-URBAN AREAS OF DEBRE-BERHAN AND DESSIE, ETHIOPIA, AND PERFORMANCE OF LAMBS FED DIFFERENT COMBINATIONS OF WHEAT BRAN AND LENTIL SCREENING
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2017-06
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
This study consisting of survey and experimental parts was conducted to characterize
sheep production systems in urban and peri-urban areas of Debre-Berhan and Dessie,
Ethiopia, and evaluate the effect of different combinations of wheat bran and lentil
screening on growth and carcass performance of Menz ram lambs. The survey was
undertaken using 240 randomly selected households from Debre-Berhan and Dessie urban
and peri-urban areas. Structured and pre-tested questionnaire, focus group discussions
and personal observations were used to collect data. Based on the identified feed
resources from the survey work, four treatment diets with different combinations of wheat
bran and lentil screening were formulated. The treatments were T1 (30g wheat bran and
133g lentil screening), T2 (235g lentil screening), T3 (285g wheat bran), and T4 (227g
wheat bran and 120g lentil screening). Twenty four Menz ram lambs of 8 to 10 months of
age were grouped into six blocks based on their initial body weight and each block was
randomly distributed to each treatment. Five lambs from each treatment were randomly
picked and used for digestibility trial and carcass evaluation. According to the survey
results, the average family size was greater in peri-urban Debre -Berhan (5.4) than that of
Dessie (4.8). The sheep flock size per household was greater for peri-urban Debre-Berhan
(16.7± 7.88) than peri-urban Dessie (9.3±7.18). Sheep producers were predominantly
traders in urban (47.6 and 37.0%) and farmers (93.3 and 79.0%) in peri-urban areas of
Debre-Berhan and Dessie, respectively. The major available feed resources in the study
areas were pasture, hay, crop residues, wheat bran, nug seedcake, Attela and legume
grain processing by-products. Grazing during the dry season and semi-grazing with stall
feeding during the wet season were the major feeding practices identified. In Debre-
Berhan area, more respondents (69.0% in urban and 58.9% in peri-urban) were involved
in sheep fattening activity than in Dessie area (37.0% in urban and 37.1% in peri-urban).
Urban and peri-urban sheep production contributed as a major household income source
for 69.0 - 95.2% of the respondents and as a source of food for 4.8- 31% ones. As per
ranking index, high feed cost, lack of improved sheep breeds, capital, and labour
shortages were identified as major constraints of urban and peri-urban sheep production.
Conducive weather conditions, access to concentrate feeds and attractive sheep market
prices in urban and peri-urban areas were considered to be opportunities for sheep
production. The feeding trial showed that the wheat bran and lentil screening combination
affected (P≤0.01) the daily total dry matter intake (TDMI) of the lambs. The concentrate
dry matter intake (CDMI) and total crude protein intake (TCPI) of lambs were different
(P≤0.001) among the concentrate supplement groups. Lambs assigned to T4 diet showed
higher TDMI (814.47 g) and TCPI (107.77g) than lambs on T1, T2 and T3 diet categories. Final body weight (FBW), total body weight gain (TWG) and average daily body weight
gain (ADWG) of lambs on T4 diet were higher (P≤ 0.001) than recorded from T1, T2 and T3
diet categories. The experimental lambs showed lower (P≤ 0.01) feed conversion efficiency
(0.06) for the diet containing 30g wheat bran and 133g lentil screening (T1) than the
values recorded from T2, T3 and T4 diets. The lambs assigned to T4 and T3 diets showed
higher (P≤0.05) dry matter digestibility than were in T1. Total nitrogen intake (TNI),
nitrogen digestibility (ND) and nitrogen retention (NR) were higher (P≤ 0.001) for lambs
in T4 than T2, which were then followed by T3 and T1 diet categories. The slaughter body
weight was lower (P≤ 0.001) for those lambs were assigned in T1 than in T2, T3 and T4. The
higher (P≤ 0.001) empty body weight (19.56 g) was recorded for lambs assigned to T4 diet
than T1 followed by T2 and T3 diet. The hot carcass yield of lambs was increased (P≤ 0.01)
at 227g wheat bran and 120g lentil screening (T4) supplemented groups than at T1 and T2
diets. The concentrate combination effect was non-significant (P≥ 0.05) on dressing
percentage, and proportions of carcass lean, fat and bone. Lambs assigned to T4 diet had
higher weight of kidney fat and ureo-genital tract (P≤ 0.01) as well as respiratory tract
and blood (P≤0.05) than seen for other treatment categories. Except the dry matter
percent of carcass fat (P≤ 0.001), all carcass quality parameters were not affected (P≥
0.05) by the concentrate diet combinations. The wheat bran and lentil screening
combination effect was significant (P≤0.001) on feed cost per kg BWG with a lower value
(42.34 Birr) recorded for T4 than 65.80, 51.31 and 42.45 Birr for T1, T2 and T3,
respectively. Thus, a concentrate supplement diet containing 227g wheat bran and 120g
lentil screening can be considered as best for finishing of Menz ram lambs with higher
body weight gain, dry matter digestibility, nutrient utilization, carcass yield and lower feed
cost per kg weight gain. It could be also concluded that urban and peri-urban sheep
production in the study areas offered economical advantages to the producers through
sale of sheep and direct use for family consumption.
Description
PhD Thesis
Keywords
Carcass, combinations, constraints, digestibility