EFFECT OF SUBSTITUTION OF KOCHO FOR MAIZE ON FEED INTAKE, DIGESTIBILITY, AND BODY WEIGHT GAIN OF SHEEP FED RHODES GRASS HAY AS BASAL DIET

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of substitution of kocho for maize on feed intake, digestibility, and body weight gain of sheep supplemented Rhodes grass hay as basal diet. Twenty four yearling male Adilo lambs with initial body weights of 15.03 ±1.96 kg (mean ± SD) were used. Animals were grouped into six blocks of four animals, and fed with 74% maize + 25%noug cake + 1% salt (T1), 46.25% maize + 27.75% kocho + 25% noug cake + 1%slt (T2), 27.75% maize + 46.25% kocho + 25% noug cake + 1% salt (T3), and 74% kocho + 25%noug cake + 1% salt (T4). Rhodes grass hay was offered as a basal diet ad libitum. The supplements were offered at the rate of 300 g/d during the feeding and digestibility trials of 72 and 7 days, respectively. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in dry matter, organic matter, acid detergent and Metabolizable energy intake, dry matter and organic matter digestibility and weight gain among treatments. Lambs in T1 had the highest (P < 0.05) CP intake (49.03 g/d) followed by T2, T3 and T4 with 42.85, 39.35 and 33.50 g/d, respectively. Nitrogen intake was lowest (p<0.05) for sheep fed T4 and highest (P<0.05) for sheep fed T1, T2 and T3 diets which had comparable values among themselves. The highest (P<0.05) N retention was for T2 and the lowest (P<0.05) was for T1 and T4, while T3 had an intermediate value. The study conducted inferred that kocho can replace maize without any unfavorable effect on nutrient intake, digestibility and weight gain. It was concluded that kocho could be used as an alternative good energy source to replace maize in areas where its economic advantages are practicable.