Carcass and Non-carcass Yield Characteristics of Horro Sheep Supplemented with Two Lablab purpureus Cultivars and Concentrate Mixture to a Basal Diet of Natural grass hay

The study was carried out using twenty five male yearling Horro sheep with average body weight (BW) of 18.5 + 1.99 kg (Mean + SD) to determine the supplementary value of Beresa-55 and Gebisa-17 Lablab purpureus cultivars and concentrate mixture to a basal diets of natural pasture hay on carcass and non-carcass yield characteristics. All lambs were stratified in to five groups according to their initial body weight in randomized complete block design and were assigned to the dietary treatments randomly. Experimental lambs had free access to a basal diet (natural grass hay) but, supplemental feeds were restricted considering 1.5 and 2% of their body weight in dry matter (DM) basis which is adjusted following regular weight measurements. Thus, the treatments were; ad-lib natural grass hay + concentrate mixture at 2% BW (T1), ad-lib natural grass hay + Gebisa-17 cultivar at 1.5% BW (T2), ad-lib natural grass hay + Gebisa-17 cultivar at 2% BW (T3), ad-lib natural grass hay + Beresa-55 cultivar at 1.5% BW (T4) and ad-lib natural grass hay + Beresa-55 cultivar at 2% BW (T5). All carcass parameters and most of the non carcass parameters were significantly affected by dietary treatments. Lambs fed diets T1 and T5 had performed better in most of the parameters measured such as SW, EBW, HCW, fore and Hind quarter. However, lambs in T2, T3 and T4 had intermediate value in these parameters. In general, lambs fed T1 and T5 enhanced comparable carcass and non carcass yield than in the other treatments. However, Supplementation with conventional feed resources (grains, cereals etc.) for animal production is scarce and highly expensive in many parts of the world. Hence, the use of forage legumes as alternative feed resources for ruminant livestock is becoming increasingly important in many parts of the tropics and sub-tropics because of its availability, abundance and relatively reduced cost. Therefore, it can be recommended that, T5 (ad-lib grass hay+Beresa-55 cultivars at 2% BW) can be used as a priority supplement in feeding of local sheep. Keywords: Horro sheep, dressing percentage, hot carcass weight, Lablab purpureu

Evaluation of Seven Oat (Avena sativa) Genotypes for Biomass Yield and Quality Parameters under Different Locations of Western Oromia, Ethiopia

Recognizing the potential and importance of cultivating improved forage crops as a means of tackling the recurrent feed shortage facing the study area, seven oat genotypes were tested in randomized complete block design with three replications across two locations for three growing seasons (2014, 2015, and 2016). The study was aimed to evaluate dry matter (DM) and digestible organic matter yield and nutrient composition of oat genotypes. The study revealed that oat genotypes responded differently for herbage dry matter (DM) and digestible organic matter (OM) yield, and quality parameters in both study locations. Averaged over the seven oat genotypes, herbage DM and digestible OM yield. recorded at Bako were higher than Boneya Boshe location across the study periods. The ash (P > 0.05) content did not vary among oat genotypes at both testing locations, while variation was observed for DM, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), in vitro digestibility, and metabolizable energy (ME) constituents. In general, genotypes ILRI 6710 and 5453 showed higher herbage DM and digestible OM yield. Moreover, the two genotypes are also higher in their in vitro digestibility value and ME, DM, and CP contents but relatively lower in NDF, ADF, and ADL fiber constituents, and thus, they are recommended for wider cultivation

Forage yield and quality parameters of eight oat (Avena sativa L.) genotypes at multilocation trials in Eastern Oromia, Ethiopia

AbstractEight genotypes of oat (Avena sativa L.) were evaluated across four locations with two standard checks under rainfall conditions from 2017 to 2018. Both agronomic and chemical composition data were collected. The analysis of the results indicated a statistical significance difference (P  0.05) in ash, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), and in-vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) among genotypes. The additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) analysis for dry matter yield and biomass yield were influenced by environment and genotype. Among the study locations, Tulo was more of an ideal environment for oat crops followed by Chiro. Among the eight oat genotypes evaluated in this trial, the genotypes ILRI#5450 and ILRI#5442 revealed higher agronomic performance than the standard check and remaining studied genotypes. Therefore, oat genotypes ILRI#5450 and ILRI#5442 should be recommended for wider cultivation and need further breeding improvement investigation as animal feed in Eastern Oromia and similar agro-ecology to Ethiopia