Evaluation of Growth Performance and Apparent Nutrients Digestibility in Ouda Lambs Fed With Different Concentrate Feeds in Kano State, North Western Nigeria

The research was carried out at the small ruminant teaching and research unit of Audu Bako College of Agriculture, Danbatta, Kano, to evaluate the effects of feeding Ouda lambs different concentrate feeds and groundnut hay on performance and apparent digestibility. Twenty-five lambs were randomly allotted in a completely randomised design to five treatments, i.e., diet A (Compounded), B (Ricogardo), C (Albarka), D (Knarda), and E (Animal care). Diet A was formulated and floor mixed, and served as a control, while B, C, D, and E were commercially purchased. Each treatment comprised five lambs and was fed with the respective diet. Data obtained were analyzed using ANOVA, and means were separated using the Duncan multiple range test. The result revealed a significantly (p<0.05) lowest total average feed intake (650.10 g) in treatment A, with the highest weight gain, the highest feed conversion efficiency (0.19), and a better feed conversion ratio. Treatment C correspondingly revealed the highest weekly weight gain (886.1g) and the lowest mean value (795.00 g), respectively. Meanwhile, treatment E had a significantly (p<0.05) highest total average feed intake (780.00g) with the lowest feed conversion ratio (6.43). Dry matter and nutrients digestibility results showed that Treatment A (77.17%) recorded the highest mean value compared to Treatment E (76.85%) and Treatment B (76.05%). The CP digestibility was significantly (p<0.05) highest in Treatment B and lowest in Treatment C. Treatments A, C, and D were statistically similar (p>0.05) in terms of CF digestibility, with Treatment C recording a significantly (p<0.05) lowest mean value. The result further revealed that EE digestibility was higher in treatment A (58.25%), while treatment E had the lowest mean value (52.60%). The result expressed that ash digestibility was higher in treatment E (77.91%) and lowest in treatment A (68.26%). The study revealed that concentrate supplement and groundnut hay could be used as feed for small ruminants, without any deleterious effect on feed intake, nutrient digestibility, growth performance, and nutrient utilization It is recommended that small ruminants be fed with concentrate supplements and groundnut hay for enhanced nutrient utilization and growth performance.