Abstract:
This
study
was
conducted
to evaluate
the
performance
of growing
sheep
fed
varying
levels
of
fore-
stomach
digesta
replacing
cowpea
husk
at 0, (control)
10,20,30
and
40%
levels
designated
as
treat-
ments
1,2,3,4
and
5 respectively.
There
was
an
insignificant
decrease
in the
average
daily
gain
(ADG)
(p>0.05)
from
94
g (treatment
I) to 68
g (treatment
5).
Total
dry
matter
intake
(TDMI)
showed
a signifi-
cant
decline
(P<0.05)
from
treatment
1 (830
g/day)
to treatment
5 (706
g/day).
When
expressed
as per-
centage
of body
weight,
TDMJ
was
highest
for
treatment
2 (3.5%)
and
lowest
for
treatment
5 (2.3%)
but
the
differences
were
not
significant
(P<0.05).
Feed
efficiency
was
similar
for
all
treatments.
CP
and
CF
intakes
were
not
significant
between
treatments.
N retention
was
higher
for
animals
on
treatments
2 (96
g/day)
and
4 (I O~
g/day)
compared
to the
other
treatments.
Significantly,
N retention
was
signifi-
cantly
higher
(P<0.05)
for
animals
on
treatment
1 (81
g/day)
and
3 (86
g/day)
compared
to those
on
treatment
5 (71
g/day).
Total
cost
of feed
per
kg
liveweight
gain
was
highest
for
animals
on
treatment
2
(NI56)
and
lowest
for
animals
on
treatment
5 (N82)
but
the
differences
were
not
significant
(P>U.0
