Replacing Noug Seed Cake with Alfalfa Hay in the Diet of Yearling Arsi-Bale Sheep

Abstract

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of substituting noug seed cake with alfalfa hay on the growth performance and carcass parameters of yearling Arsi-Bale sheep. The experimental diets were formulated based on iso-nitrogenous rations and included wheat bran, noug seed cake, and alfalfa hay. The alfalfa hay was incorporated into the diets at proportions of 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%. A total of 30 one year old Arsi-Bale sheep were purchased and treated for anti-parasites before being allocated to treatments in a randomized complete block design with five treatments, each replicated six times. The feeding trial lasted for 100 days, followed by slaughtering. The final body weight, total body weight gain, average daily weight gain, hot carcass weight, dressing percentage, and most non-carcass trait of the sheep did not vary significantly among the treatments. All treatments positively affected the sheep growth performance and carcass traits. The partial budget analysis indicated that animals fed a higher proportion of alfalfa hay generated more income. Therefore, demonstrating the use of alfalfa hay as a protein feed supplements for yearling Arsi-Bale sheep is recommended.