Evaluating Feed Utilization and Growth of Washera Sheep Supplemented Chamaecytisus palmensis Leaves and Wheat Bran Mixture to a Basal Diet of Avena sativa Straw

ABSTRACT Background In Ethiopia, livestock production is highly constrained by feed shortage and by the high scaling cost of oil seed cake protein supplements. In addition to being unaffordable and high‐cost, oil seed cakes are inaccessible to smallholder farmers. Therefore, to solve these challenges, there is a need to look for other alternative but easily available protein supplements. In this regard, tree lucerne (Chamaecytisus palmensis) could be an important protein source for ruminant livestock production. Objectives The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of dried tree lucerne leaves (DTLL) mixed with wheat bran (WB) in different proportions on feed intake, digestibility, body weight change and economic benefit of Washera sheep on crop residue‐based diet. Materials and Methods A total of 20 growing, intact male yearling Washera sheep with an initial body weight of 18.16 kg (mean) were blocked into five blocks based on the similarity of initial body weight, and treatment feeds were randomly assigned to the animals within a block throughout the 90 and 10‐day growth and digestibility trials period, respectively. The dietary treatments were oat straw ad libitum + 50 g noug seed cake (NSC) (T1 control), T1 +25% DTLL: 75% WB (T2), T1 +50% DTLL: 50% WB (T3), and T1 +75% DTLL: 25% WB (T4). Results The results of the study indicated that there were significant (p < 0.0001) increments in dry matter (DM) intake (447–769 g), DM digestibility (54%–77.5%), average daily gain (−2.46–76 g/day), and net return when the DTLL proportion in the supplement was increased from 0% to 75% (T1–T4). Conclusion Therefore, from the results of the current study, it could be suggested that supplementing oat straw with 75% DTLL and 25% WB is economical to improve the weight gain of Washera sheep.