Effect of sesame cake supplementation on feed intake, body weight gain, feed conversion efficiency and carcass parameters in the ration of sheep fed on wheat bran and teff (Eragrostis teff) straw

Abstract

Twenty-five yearling growing intact sheep were arranged in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with five treatments and five replications. The experimental animals were supplied teff straw as basal ration. Different levels of sesame cake were supplemented in various treatment groups i.e. T1 (150 gm wheat bran, 0 gm sesame seed cake DM/day) being control group, T2 (150 gm wheat bran, 150 gm sesame seed cake DM/day), T3 (150 gm wheat bran, 200 gm sesame seed cake DM/day), T4 (150 gm wheat bran, 250 gm sesame seed cake DM/day) and T5 (150 gm wheat bran, 300 gm sesame seed cake DM/day). The experiment was conducted for 90 day of feeding trial and 7 days of digestibility trial. There was significant (p . 0.05) increase in total dry matter intake (TDMI), total organic matter intake (Total OMI) and total crude protein intake (Total CPI) with increase in level of supplementation. There was significantly lower (p . 0.05) crude protein (CP) content in the feces of the control group as compared to the different of level sesame seed cake supplemented groups. There was significant difference in DM, OM and CP (p . 0.05) digestibility between supplemented and control groups. The control treatment had significantly higher (p . 0.05) feed conversion ratio than the supplemented treatments and lower (p . 0.05) feed conversion efficiency as compared to the highest level sesame seed cake supplemented group (T5). Higher (p . 0.05) average daily body weight was gained in sheep supplemented with highest level (T5) of sesame seed cake group than the other supplemented groups and the control treatment. There was increasing trend of body weight gain from control to higher level of supplementation i.e. T1 (7.8), T2 (60.0), T3 (63.2), T4 (72.8) and T5 (77.8). There was increasing trend of slaughter weight (SW), empty body weight (EBW), hot carcass weight (HCW), dressing percentage on slaughter weight base and empty body weight base and rib-eye area with increase in supplementation of sesame seed cake being higher (p.0.05) value for T5 followed by T4, T3, T2 and T1. The size of heart, liver with gallbladder, reticulo-rumen, small intestine, total fat, tail, kidney and total edible organic component (TEOC) were significantly (p.0.05) affected by supplementation. Sheep supplemented with sesame seed cake had significantly higher (p.0.05) visceral fat, and tail than the control treatments. There was a significant difference (p.0.05) due to  supplementation on blood, spleen and pancreas, skin, testicle and penis, feet, head without tongue and total non-edible offal component (TNEOC%).The results of the present study showed that supplementation of 300gDM level of sesame seed cake (T5) increased body weight gain and enhanced carcass parameters which is potentially more beneficial and economically feasible than the other levels of supplements and the control group. Strategic feeding with locally available feed resources will improve efficient use of nutrients by sheep.