Feeding sorghum stover to Ethiopian sheep: effect of stover variety and amount offered on growth, intake and selection

1 March 1990

journal article
sheep production
Published by Cambridge University Press (CUP) in Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Production (1972)

Vol. 1990, 160
https://doi.org/10.1017/s0308229600019401

Abstract

Wahed and Owen (1986) showed that intake of barley straw by goats increased when the amount of straw offered was increased from 18 to 54 and 90 g dry matter (DM) per kg mass (M) daily. The three offer rates were associated with refusal rates (% of offer) of 14, 57 and 70 % respectively. Subsequent work at Reading by Allmon et al (1989) indicated that goats were selecting more straw-leaf when offer rates were Increased.The present study, undertaken in Ethiopia, investigated whether similar responses would occur with sheep offered increasing quantities of sorghum stover (straw) and whether the responses would vary according to variety of sorghum. Dry-land farmers In Ethiopia and other African countries are being encouraged to plant new varieties of sorghum which are more bird-resistant than the traditional varieties. Unfortunately bird-resistant varieties have been shown to contain polyphenolic compounds which may have adverse effects on intake and digestion of stover. Two contrasting varieties of stover were therefore compared in the present study.

Keywords

This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit:

Effect of rates of offer and treatment with sodium hydroxide or ammonia on intake, digestibility and selection of barley straw by goats
Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Production (1972), 1989