Abstract

Feed shortage both in quantity and quality is one of the major constraints of Livestock production in Southern Ethiopia. Sources of protein feed supplement is particularly too expensive and inaccessible. The experiment was conducted to evaluate intake, weight gain and carcass characteristics of growing lambs (4-6 months) at Doyogena, southern Ethiopia. Graded levels of sensel (Justicia schemperiana), and WB and noug cake (Guizotia abyssinica) and 380 g/ DM WB, 210 g DM noug cake and 0.5% salt were mixed as concentrate ration (CR) for control group while wheat bran and salt were included in the diets for experimental animals. 24 growing lambs were allocated to four treatments in completely randomized block design: T1= grazing + 380 g DM wheat bran /head/day + 210 g noug cake +10 g salt as a control; T2= grazing + 380 g DM wheat bran /head/day + 250 g sensel/head/day), T3= grazing + 380 g DM wheat bran /head/day + 200 g sensel /head/day) and T4= grazing + 380 g DM wheat bran /head/day + 350 g sensel /head/day. The results indicated that lambs supplemented with sensel at 150 g per head/day showed significantly (p<0.05) higher feed conversion efficiency. Likewise, lambs supplemented with sensel leaf at 150 g/ head/day had significantly higher FCE compared to lambs supplemented with 250 and 350 g sensel leaf per head/ day. The overall mean daily gain of 44.2 g/head/day in 6-8 weeks. The partial budget analysis suggested economic feasibility of strategic supplementation. Sensel is rich in protein content (29%) but as amount increases it might limit intake and digestibility that warrants a research for the future.

Keywords: Growth; Average Daily Gain; Doyogena Sheep; Fattening; Profit