NUTRITIVE VALUE, NUTRIENTS DIGESTIBILITY AND PERFORMANCE OF DESERT LAMBS FED WITH ERAGROSTIS TREMULA IN NORTH KORDOFAN, SUDAN

This study was conducted with objective elucidating the chemical composition, nutrients’ digestibility of Eragrostistremula hay and lambs’ performance. Fifteen of Desert lambs at the age of six months with an average weight of 17.500+ 0.250 kg were used. The animals were divided into three equal groups. The animals were vaccinated against diseases epidemic to the study area and drenched with abroad spectrum anthelmentics against internal and external parasites individually penned and were ear-tagged for identification during treatments. Ten days were allowed for adaptation for treatments and feed. The first group was fed Eragrostistremula while the second consumed the pasture natural and the third fed the groundnut haulms. Water was provided continuously. The initial weight was taken prior trial commencement and once weekly to the end of the experiment. Feed was weighed to determine the consumed amount daily. Eragrostistremula hay, NG and GNH were analyzed via proximate analysis as well as determination of in vitro and in vivo digestibility. The experiment was complete randomized design and the data were analyzed using the analysis of variance and the detection of differences among the means using least significant difference test (LSD). Feed intake was significantly (P<0.05) greater for the group on Eragrosticstremula (ET) than those on groundnut haulms, GH, or the natural grazing, NG. In vitro digestibility showed higher dry mater and organic matter digestibility coefficients for the GH followed by NG and lastly ET. In vivo organic matter digestibility showed the same trend. The body weight gain was greater for those animals on GH followed by animals on ET and lastly on NG. It was concluded that Eragrosticstremula had higher intake and lower digestibility coefficients and lower animal performance than GNH but better than NG when it is consumed alone. It was recommended that the plant be grown as field fodder crop for its short life of growth and greater amount of biomass produced and consumed. It is also recommended that it should be harvested at early stages and analyzed for nutritive value. Because of its greater consumption it is recommended that the hay be fed to lactating animals with suitable supplement be evaluated for performance.