EFFECT OF INTERVAL OF FEEDING ROUGHAGE AND CONCENTRATE ON THE PERFORMANCE OF SOKOTO RED BUCKLINGS

Abstract

The effect of interval of feeding roughage and concentrate on the performance of Sokoto Red bucklings was evaluated in this study, which was conducted at Federal University Dutsin-Ma Livestock Teaching and Research Farm.Fifteen (15) Sokoto Red bucklings with average body weight of 10.5 kg were allotted to three treatments in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The treatments are Treatment 1: roughage and concentrate fed at 0 h interval; Treatment 2: roughage and concentrate fed at 2 hours interval and Treatments 3: roughage and concentrate fed at 3 hours interval. The Groundnut haulms and concentrate were fed at a ratio of 70% to 30%, respectively. Water was offered ad libitum and changed every morning. Changing the Interval of feeding Concentrate and roughage did not affect concentrate and hay intake significantly (P > 0.05). The total weight gain and average daily gain (ADG) of the experimental animals were not significantly (P > 0.05) affected by the feeding interval. Based on the data obtained, it is concluded that the interval of feeding concentrate and roughage did not affect the performance of the Sokoto Red bucklings. It is therefore recommended that the farmers should offer both the concentrate and roughage at 0 h interval