The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of supplementation of indigenous browse tree pods on nutrient intake, digestibility, weight gain, and carcass parameters of local Abergelle rams fed grass hay as a basal diet. This experiment was conducted at the Abergelle Agricultural Research Center farm in Tigray region, northern Ethiopia. Experimental rams were grouped according to their initial body weight (17.4 ± 0.95 kg) in a randomized complete block design into three treatments and six replications. Treatments consisted of feeding grass hay free of choice supplemented with pods of either Acacia tortilis (T), Faidherbia albida (T), or Dichrostachys cinerea (T) fed at the rate of 10 g kg body weight daily. The crude protein (CP) contents of the supplemental feeds in T, T, and T were 167, 156, and 135 g kg dry matter (DM), respectively. The CP intake was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in T and T than that in T. No statistical difference (P > 0.05) was observed in the digestibilities of DM and CP. Final body weight, average daily gain, slaughter weight (SW), hot carcass weight, and ribeye area were not significantly different (P > 0.05) among the treatments. However, dressing percentage based on SW in T and T was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that in T. Therefore, from this research, it can be concluded that though the weight gains and carcass weights of experimental rams were not as such remarkable among the treatments, efficient utilization of locally available and cheap browse tree pods as alternative protein supplements to Abergelle sheep during the dry season could be important to small holder farmers.

This study was conducted to evaluate body weight gain, feed intake and digestibility of highland sheep supplemented with wheat bran and dried Acacia saligna leaf five treatments, namely grass hay as a control (T1), 100 g per day A. saligna, (T2), 200 g per day A. saligna (T3), 300 g per day A. saligna (T4) and 400 g per day A. saligna (T5) with a fixed amount (200 g per day) of wheat bran was provided to the supplemented groups. Ram lambs in the control group gained 7.8 g/day while ram lambs placed under T2, T3, T4 and T5 gained 42.8, 63.9, 62.2 and 57.8 g/day. Thus, supplementation of 200 g/day dried A. saligna and 200 g/day wheat bran is biologically more efficient and economically more profitable and thus recommended for highland ram lambs fattening.

The study aimed to provide the appropriate level of Acacia Saligna (AS) for ram supplementation that enhances their reproductive performance without compromising carcass and sensory qualities. Sixteen rams with an average initial live body weight of 21.98±1.84kg were fed ad-libitum grass hay and 200 g/d Wheat Bran (WB) with treatment diet; T1: 100; T2: 200; T3: 300; and T4: 400 g/d of air-dried AS leaves. Rams assigned on T4 had 11% and 6% higher DMI than T1 and T2, respectively, and got 5.5%, 3%, and 1.5% more CP than T1, T2, and T3, respectively. Higher impact of AS supplementation observed on development of reproductive organ on T4 than T1. The T4 rams also produced 14%, 7%, and 7.5% more semen volume and 2.5%, 2%, and 1% live sperm cell count than T1, T2, and T3 rams, respectively without jeopardizing semen quality. Furthermore, increasement of AS improved the libido and spermatozoa motility of the rams. Supplementation of AS did not produce a difference in slaughter weight, empty body weight, carcass weight, dressing percentage, and sensory quality of the rams. However, edible offal and usable product of T4 were higher than T1. The liver and kidney the most important organs were heavier in T4 than T1 rams. Hence, smallholder farmers can supplement dried AS with WB as an alternative supplement to improve the breeding effi ciency of rams and produce quality meat.