The Effect of Mulberry Leaf Meal Supplementation on Feed Intake andBody Weight Change of Indigenous Ethiopian Highland Sheep

Abstract

An experiment was conducted with the objective of evaluating the effect ofdried mulberry leaf supplementation on feed intake and body weight gain of Wollo sheep.Twenty four sheep with averageinitial body weight of19.1± 0.9 kg were used for the experiment. Sheep were blocked into six blocks and randomly assigned to the four treatments. Treatments were grass hay only (M0), grass hayad labitumanddried mulberry leaf at 0.5 % body weight (M0.5), grass hayad libitumand dried mulberry leaf at 1.5 % bodyweight(M1.5)and grass hayad libitumand dried mulberry leaf at 2.5 % bodyweight (M2.5. The initial and final body weights were not significantly different (p> 0.05) among treatment means. The total body weight change and average daily weight gain were significantly different (p< 0.05) among treatment and was in theorder ofM1.5=M2.5>M0.5>M0. Animals fed dried mulberry leaf at 1.5 and 2.5 % body weight had significantly higher (p<0.05) total body weight change and average daily weight gain. Feed conversionefficiency (FCE) among dietary treatments was significant (p< 0.05) and in the order ofM1.5>M0.5>M2.5>M0.5.In conclusion, the highest increase in final body weight, average daily weight gain and feedconversion efficiency was found at a supplementation rate of 1.5 % body weight. Therefore, dried mulberryleaves canbe used as a protein supplement to poor quality roughage feeds under smallholder farmers’ conditions.