Performance of Uda lambs fed varying levels of Rice-Milling By-product (RMB) in Sokoto, Nigeria

Abstract

This study evaluated the feeding and body weight gain efficiencies of growing Uda lambs fed varying levels of rice milling by-product (RMB) in Sokoto, Nigeria. Twelve Uda lambs weighing 17.5 - 24.0 kg were used for this experiment. The lambs were grouped into four treatments; I, II, III and IV containing 0, 10, 20 and 30% RMB, respectively, arranged in RCBD. The lambs were fed the four treatment diets daily as concentrate and Monecma ciliatum hay as basal diet at 1.5 and 1.0 % of body weight respectively, for nine weeks. Data were collected on feed intake, body weight gain, feed efficiency and cost of feed per live weight gained and analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). LSD test was used for mean separation where necessary. Results showed that the lambs had similar (P > 0.05) total and daily weight gains and feed efficiency in the four treatments. However, lambs on treatment IV (30% RMB) recorded higher (P < 0.05) daily feed intake, and total feed consumed than lambs on treatments I (0% RMB) and II (10% RMB), but these values for treatment III were similar (P > 0.05) to those for treatment IV. Conversely, the cost of total feed consumed was higher (P < 0.05) in treatment I and lower in treatment IV. Treatment IV (30% RMB) showed higher economic advantage for utilization of RMB in concentrate diet of growing Uda lambs in Sokoto, Nigeria, and is recommended for use by farmers for optimum lambs productivity in the study area.