Performance of sheep fed NaOH-treated straw with browse compared with urea-treated straw

Fleischer, J.E., Department of Animal Science, University of Ghana, LG 226, Legon, Ghana; Sottie, E.T., Department of Animal Science, University of Ghana, LG 226, Legon, Ghana; Amaning-Kwarteng, K., Department of Animal Science, University of Ghana, LG 226, Legon, Ghana

Performance of sheep fed NaOH-treated straw with browse compared with urea-treated straw

2000

Fleischer, J.E., Department of Animal Science, University of Ghana, LG 226, Legon, Ghana | Sottie, E.T., Department of Animal Science, University of Ghana, LG 226, Legon, Ghana | Amaning-Kwarteng, K., Department of Animal Science, University of Ghana, LG 226, Legon, Ghana

Two experiments wore carried out to study the relative intakes and performance Qf sheep fed NaOH-treated straw supplemented with browse or shrub compared with sheep fed urea-treated straw. The shrub or browse used were Securinega virosa, Milletia thonningii, and De/onu regia. The browse/shrub was fed together with NaOH-treated rice straw (STS) (44.2 g NaOH in 118 g water per kg straw) and compared with urea-treated straw (UTS) (75.5 g urea in 434.3 ml water per kg straw). In Experiment I, significant differences (P0.05) were observed in intake. Animals on De/onix had a lower intake (38 g1kg07S) compared to the others '(42 to 44 g1kgo.7'). Straw int!\\ke was higher on UTS (43 glkg07') compared to the others (31 to 34 g/kg"7S). Intake of browse was lower with De/onu (7.0 g/kgtl7S)compared to the others (10 glkg"7S). No si~nificant differences (P0.05) were observed among treatment groups in either rumen pH or ammonia levels. In Experiment 2, significant differences (P0.05) were observed in intake, daily weight gains, and feed conversion efficiency. Total dry matter intake varied from 46 to 5I g/kgtl7S,straw intake ranged between 36 and 51 g/kg"'7S, and browse intake between 9 and 14 g/kg"7S. Daily weight gain was between 44 and 62 g1d while

Afficher plus [+]