Onfarm verification of creep feeding of ram lambs in East Wollega
2004
Gemeda Duguma | Solomon Abegaz | Takele Kumsa | Fayo Dubbiso | Berhanu Soboqa | Yohannis Gojjam
An 82-day creep feeding study was conducted from 15 may to 07 August 2004 at two woredas of East Wollega Zone (Leqa Dullacha and Jimma Arjo) of West Oromia, to verify and demonstrate creep feeding technology on-farm. The creep red lambs were offered 41 kg/head concentrate supplementation. The creep feed was composed of 49.5% ground maize, 49.5% noug cake (Guizotia abssynica) and 1.0% common salt. On average creep fed lambs were heavier by 53.7% (5.5 kg) and at better body condition (3.3 vs 2.5) than the control group at the end of the experimental period. They grew at a rate of 67 g/day (57.4% faster) during the course of study period. A total live weight gain of 10.8 kg and 5.3 kg (with 57.3% superiority) were recorded for the creep fed and control group lambs, respectively. Though not significant (p0.05), lambs owned by female family heads tended to gain more live weight (about 2 kg) than those maintained by male family heads. The former group also grew at approximately by 20.6% (24 g/head/day) faster than their contemporary group and at better body condition (about 3.4 vs. 2.8), respectively. Given 24.98 birr creep feed costs a return (advantage) of 32.43 birr/head was generated for creep- versus non-creep-fed lambs. Thus, in areas where noug cake and maize grain are available, like the western region of Oromia, creep feeding of young lambs of less than 3-months of age at a level of 500 g/head/day for about three months is profitable particularly if the feeding activity is either performed right after harvest or the feed is purchased at harvesting time and stored for use at any other times of the year.
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