GROWTH RESPONSE OF YANKASA SHEEP TO DIFFERENT LEVELS OF CONCENTRATE SUPPLEMENTATION

Abstract

In a study that lasted for 120 days, 20 weaned Yankasa ram lambs aged 6 months and weighing between 10.5 and 14.5kg with an average of 12.75kg were offered a basal Digitaria smutsii hay diet at 2% of body weight. This was supplemented with a concentrate mixture made to supply 14.6% crude protein and 2.6 Mcal ME per kg and offered to treatment groups A, B, C and D at 1, 2, 3, and 4% of body weight respectively. There were five replicates and the animals were fed individually. Results indicated that the differences in Average Daily Gain was significant (P<0.05) between all the treatments; the value increased with increased level of feeding. The cost of effecting one unit of live weight increase was not significantly different (P<0.05) between treatments, A, B, and C, but it was significantly lower (P<0.05) than for treatment D. The low growth response of lambs fed the concentrate at 1% of body weight and the higher cost per unit gain of lambs offered the supplement at 4% of body weight suggested that concentrate supplementation at 2 and 3% of body weight was adequate for optimum liveweight gains in the Yankasa sheep breed.