Effect of feeding some West African browse foliages on growth and carcass composition in sheep

Abstract

The effect of feeding foliage from Afzelia africana, Pterocarpus erinaceus or Khaya senegalensis on growth performance was evaluated using 32 West African Djallonké rams of about 8 months of age and with a mean initial body weight (BW) of 16.1 kg. The animals were randomly assigned to four groups of 8 animals and the experiment lasted for 13 weeks. All the animals received the same amount of hay from Andropogon gayanus and maize bran (200 g/day each) and dried foliage ad libitum. The control group was fed cottonseed cake in restricted amounts. The animals were able to consume higher amounts of A. africana than of P. erinaceus and K. senegalensis. There was no significant difference in growth rate between sheep offered A. africana or P. erinaceus, 62.9 and 58.8 g/d, respectively, but sheep offered K. senegalensis had a lower average daily gain, 48 g/day (P < 0.05) due to lower consumption of both energy and crude protein. Animals in the control group had the highest growth rate, 95.8 g/day. Sheep offered P. erinaceus and K. senegalensis had similar carcass characteristics and dressing percentage but lower fasted BW, empty BW, carcass weight and dressing percentage (P < 0.05) than sheep offered A. africana. These tree species can provide valuable feed during periods of feed shortage in the humid and sub-humid zones.

Effect of supplementing crossbred Xhosa lop-eared goat castrates with Moringa oleifera leaves on growth performance, carcass and non-carcass characteristics

“…Similar results were also reported by Ouédraogo-Koné et al (2009). On the other hand, the lighter liver weights in goats fed the GH diet would be in accordance with the decreasing plane of nutrition, eliciting a reduced metabolic rate and mass of metabolically active tissue such as the liver (Ouédraogo-Koné et al 2009). …”

“…Heavier liver weights of goats offered SC and MOL diets could be attributed to the high fermentative products such as volatile fatty acids, suggesting inefficient use of dietary nitrogen for rumen microbial protein synthesis and thus a greater amount of nitrogen being metabolized in the liver (Sanon et al 2008). Similar results were also reported by Ouédraogo-Koné et al (2009). On the other hand, the lighter liver weights in goats fed the GH diet would be in accordance with the decreasing plane of nutrition, eliciting a reduced metabolic rate and mass of metabolically active tissue such as the liver (Ouédraogo-Koné et al 2009).…”

Fattening performance, slaughter, carcass and meat quality traits of Karayaka lambs

“…The rams are usually horned and the ewes are usually polled. Due to their high adaptation ability to harsh environment and resistance to diseases, local sheep breeds such as Karayaka (Cankaya et al 2009), Ovin Martinik (Marie-Magdeleine et al 2009), West African Djallonké (Ouédraogo-Koné et al 2009) and Kirdi (Ngwa and Tawah 2002) are important not only for preserving genetic diversity but also for sustainable rural development in developing or less developed parts or tropic and sub tropic geographical zones of the world.…”