Feed intake and apparent nutrient digestibility of non-lactating Dorper sheep fed with total mixed ration based on local feedstuffs

The deficiencies and imbalance of nutrients are aggravated furthermore by the fact that most of the high-quality feedstuffs are imported products, mainly corn and soya bean meal (SBM). Practical and cost-effective feeds must therefore be identified by using locally available feed resources, mainly from agro-industrial by-products. Some of the local feed resources that can replace imported raw materials, especially corn and SBM, are palm kernel cake (PKC), copra meal, rice bran and palm fatty acid distiller (PFAD). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feed intake and apparent nutrient digestibility of Dorper ewes fed with TMR (Total mixed ration) based on local feed resources. Nine non-lactating Dorper ewes were randomly and equally allocated into three treatment groups: i) TMRA (purple guinea grass silage + concentrate based on local feedstuffs + 1% PFAD), ii) TMRB (purple guinea grass silage + concentrate based on local feedstuffs + 1.5% PFAD) and iii) TMRC (purple guinea grass silage + concentrate based on imported feedstuffs) in a 17-day feeding trial based on Complete Randomized Design. The respective groups were separately fed the three formulated TMR. All TMR were fed based on 2.5% of the mean live weight of the animals. The intakes of CP, CF and EE were higher in TMRA compared to the other two treatments. Whereas the apparent digestibility of CP and EE in TMRA were higher (P<0.05) compared to TMRB and TMRC. It is concluded that TMRA that contain PKC, rice bran, copra meal and PFAD has higher digestibility in CP and EE compare to TMRC (based on imported feedstuffs). Thus, the conclusion of the local feed resources in the animal feed can improve nutrient digestibility particularly CP and EE in the ruminant.