EFFECT OF DIFFERENT PROTEIN SUPPLEMENTS ON FEED INTAKE AND PERFORMANCE OF YANKASA SHEEP FED CONGO GRASS (Brachiaria ruziziensis)

Abstract

The experiment was conducted with Sixteen (16) animals to compare the Feeds intake and performance of Yankasa sheep fed Congo grass (Brachiaria ruziziensis) with supplements of Cotton seed cake (CSC), Palm kemel cake (PKC) and Brewer's dried grain (BDG). Feed intake, weight gain were estimated while feed conversion and protein efficiency ratio were calculated. The results obtained placed animals on CSC ahead (P<0.05) in almost all the parameters estimated, followed by animals on PKC while those on BDG had the least performance. The dry matter intake (DMI) from supplement and the crude protein intake (CPI) increased from 180g and 39.02g/day in BDG to 227.08g and 62.63g/day in CSC respectively. The weight gain increased (p<0.05) from 1.65kg in BDG to 2.05kg while feed conversion ratio reduced from 34.30% in BDG to 29.15% in CSC. It was therefore concluded from the experiment that Yankasa sheep utilized CSC better than PKC and BDG.