Performance of Yankasa Rams Fed Andropogon gayanus (Gamba Grass) Hay Supplemented with Faidherbia albida (Acacia) Pods

Abstract

A 91-day feeding trial was conducted to determine the effect of supplementing gamba grass (Andropogon gayanus) hay with acacia (Faidherbia albida) pods on the performance of Yankasa rams. Twelve yankasa rams, aged between 6 – 8 months with average live weight of 17kg were subjected to four dietary treatments, each consisting of three replicates in a randomized complete block design. The four dietary treatments were T₁ (Gamba grass hay + 0% acacia pods), T₂ (Gambas grass hay + 10% acacia pods), T₃ (Gamba grass hay + 20% acacia pods) and T₄ (Gamba grass hay + 30% acacia pods). The result showed that rams fed T₁ recorded the least feed intake and weight again than T₂, T₃ and T₄ which were supplemented with acacia pods.   The live weight gain of Yankasa rams in the supplemented diets were not significantly (P<0.05) different. The water intake of the rams was not significantly (P<0.05) affected by the acacia pods supplementation. The nutrient digestibility was significantly (P<0.05) affected by the acacia pods supplementation. Rams fed supplemented diets had significantly (P<0.05) improved nutrient digestibility than those fed the unsupplemented diet. The study revealed that gamba grass hay when supplemented with acacia pods  at 20% DM intake would significantly (P < 0.05) lead to increased live weight gain of Yankasa rams.

Keywords: Performance, Yankasa rams, Gamba grass hay, Acacia pods