INFLUENCE OF FEEDING GRADED LEVELS OF UREA ENSILED SUGARCANE PEEL ON GROWTH AND NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITY OF YANKASA RAMS

The Experiment was conducted at the Small Ruminant Unit of Prof. Lawal Abdu Saulawa Livestock Teaching and Research Farm, Department of Animal Science, Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State. The study evaluated performance, digestibility and nitrogen utilization of Yankasa rams fed different levels of urea ensiled sugarcane peels. Sixteen Yankasa rams were adjusted for weight to achieve non-significant differences and was randomly allocated into four (4) dietary treatments consisting of 0%, 5%,10% and 15% inclusion levels of ensiled sugarcane meal. Data obtained were analyzed using SAS (2000) and significant differences of the treatment means were determined using the Duncan multiple range test. No significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed in growth performance metrics, such as final body weight, total weight gain, average daily weight gain, and feed efficiency, despite numerical variations. Conversely, dry matter digestibility, crude protein, crude fiber, and ether extract demonstrated significant differences (P < 0.05), with 5% UESP exhibiting superior values. Nitrogen balance and retention were significantly enhanced (P < 0.05) in 5% UESP. These findings show the potential of urea ensiled sugarcane peels as a viable, nutritionally valuable feed supplement for Yankasa rams, optimizing nutrient digestibility and nitrogen utilization without compromising health. It is therefore recommended that ensiled sugarcane peels could be included in the feed of rams especially in periods of feed scarcity, but 10% inclusion level is the most economical.