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Feeding sorghum stover to Ethiopian sheep: effect of stover variety and amount offered on growth, intake and selection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 November 2017

A A O Aboud ,
J D Reed ,
E Owen  and
A McAllan
A A O Aboud
Affiliation:
international Livestock Centre for Africa, PO Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
J D Reed
Affiliation:
The Gamblan Agricultural Research and Diversification Project, PMB 19, Banjul, The Gambia
E Owen
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, University of Reading, Earley Gate PO Box 236, Reading, RG6 2AT
A McAllan
Affiliation:
Institute for Grassland and Animal Production, Hurley, Maidenhead, SL6 5LR
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Extract

Wahed and Owen (1986) showed that intake of barley straw by goats increased when the amount of straw offered was increased from 18 to 54 and 90 g dry matter (DM) per kg mass (M) daily. The three offer rates were associated with refusal rates (% of offer) of 14, 57 and 70 % respectively. Subsequent work at Reading by Allmon et al (1989) indicated that goats were selecting more straw-leaf when offer rates were Increased.

The present study, undertaken in Ethiopia, investigated whether similar responses would occur with sheep offered increasing quantities of sorghum stover (straw) and whether the responses would vary according to variety of sorghum. Dry-land farmers In Ethiopia and other African countries are being encouraged to plant new varieties of sorghum which are more bird-resistant than the traditional varieties. Unfortunately bird-resistant varieties have been shown to contain polyphenolic compounds which may have adverse effects on intake and digestion of stover. Two contrasting varieties of stover were therefore compared in the present study.

Type
Sheep Production
Information
Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Production (1972) , Volume 1990 , March 1990 , pp. 160
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Production 1990

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References

Alimon, A. R., Owen, E., Hosking, B.J. and Rios, G. 1989. Effect of rates of offer and treatment with sodium hydroxide or ammonia on intake, digestibility and selection of barley straw by goats. Animal Production 48:654 (Abstr)Google Scholar
Wahed, R. A. and Owen, E 1986. The effect of amount offered on selection and Intake of barley straw by goats. Animal Production 42: 473 (Abstr)Google Scholar