Effect of supplementing grass diet with Acacia seyal and Balanites aegyptiacaon feed intake, conversion efficiency and growth of dorper sheep�

Abstract

Two studies were carried out at the Livestock Improvement Centre, Mogotio division of Koibatek District to evaluate Acacia seyal and Balanites aegyptiaca as feed supplements to ruminant diets during the dry season. The objectives were to determine the In vivo nutrient digestibility and feed intake, feed conversion efficiency and growth rate of sheep fed on Chloris gayana hay supplemented with graded levels of the two tree legumes. Feed materials for digestibility studies were harvested at Koibatek District using systematic sampling procedure, ground and fed to sheep in a changeover arrangement. Sheep were housed in individual pens and fitted with faecal collection bags. An adaptation period of 14, faecal collection of 7 and changeover of 10 days were enforced. In vivo digestibility results were significant for all nutrients,54.7, 66.5, 32.8, 40.3, 51.7and 82.7; 48.5, 58.9, 67.4, 36.9, 36.3 and 40.6; and 48.1, 50.4, 41.7, 53.7, 63.0 and 62.3% for DM, OM, CP, NDF, hemicellulose and cellulose in Acacia seyal, Balanites aegyptiaca and Chloris gayana hay. Acacia seyal and Balanites aegyptiaca had nutrients of low to moderate digestibility. The amounts of DCP indicate that B. aegyptiaca is suitable as CP supplement while A. seyal can serve for maintenance. The second study involved 28 Dorper sheep fed on Rhodes grass hay and supplemented with the two tree legumes at four levels each. Final weights, average daily gains and feed conversion efficiency improved significantly with supplementation. Supplementation of a grass-based diet with the two tree legumes can improve animal performance during the dry season when pasture is quite mature.���