Performance and Digestibility of West African Dwarf Sheep fed varying forage and concentrate ratios

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine performance and nutrient digestibility of twenty four West African Dwarf Sheep aged between 10 and 12 months fed varying levels of forage and concentrate. Animals were allotted to three treatment groups in a completely randomized design at 75% concentrate and 25% grass, 50% grass and 50% concentrate and 25% concentrate and 75% grass designated as treatment 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Daily nutrient intake, apparent digestibility, average daily gain, and protein efficiency were measured. Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance. The protein efficiency, average daily gain and daily nutrient intakes were significantly (P< 0.05) influence by the treatments. Apparent digestibility of nutrients by the sheep were also significantly (P< 0.05) different across the treatments except for the FE and DF which were not significantly (P> 0.05) influenced by the treatments. Diet 3 (75% forage and 25% concentrates) which supported superior sheep performance in most of the economical traits considered was thereby recommended.

Keywords: Sheep, forage, concentrate, performance and digestibility.