Journal of Agricultural Science and Practice

JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AND PRACTICE
Integrity Research Journals

ISSN: 2536-7072
Model: Open Access/Peer Reviewed
DOI: 10.31248/JASP
Start Year: 2016
Email: jasp@integrityresjournals.org

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Growth performance and nutrient intake of West African Dwarf sheep fed selected browse forages

https://doi.org/10.31248/JASP2025.554   |   Article Number: B93062881   |   Vol.10 (6) - December 2025

Received Date: 24 November 2025   |   Accepted Date: 26 December 2025  |   Published Date: 30 December 2025

Authors:  Adebayo, B. J.* and Oboh, E.R.

Keywords: Anacardium occidentale, browse forages, Gmelina aborea, Gliricidia sepium, Mangifera indica, Panicum maximum, West African Dwarf sheep.

ABSTRACT

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The growth performance and nutrient intake of West African Dwarf sheep were investigated. Five selected forages, Mangifera indica, Anacardium occidentale, Gmelina aborea, Gliricidia sepium and Panicum maximum, were used for the study. Twenty West African Dwarf (WAD) male sheep of an average weight of 12.65 kg, between 6 and 7 months old, were subjected to five dietary treatments with four animals per treatment in a completely randomised design in a study that lasted for 84 days. Significantly (p<0.05) highest (4.33 kg) weight gain was observed in sheep fed P. maximum + A. occidentale, while the (2.23 kg) was recorded in sheep fed P. maximum only. The same trend was observed in the daily weight gain. The best (5.41) feed conversion ratio was observed in sheep fed P. maximum + A. occidentale. The highest (249.15 g/day) significant (p<0.05) total dry matter intake was observed in animals fed P. maximum + A. occidentale, while the least (170.32 g/day) was obtained in animals fed P. maximum + G. aborea. Addition of forages to P. maximum fed to WAD sheep significantly (p< 0.05) affected crude protein intake, as animals on P. maximum + M. indica recorded the least value (39.02 DM g/day) while the highest significant value (67.02 DM g/day) was obtained from animals fed P. maximum + A. occidentale. The study concluded that, in terms of feed conversion ratio and weight gain, sheep fed P. maximum supplemented with A. occidentale gave the best performance.

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