Effect of Feeding Roughage Hay on Production Efficiency and Economic Return in Crossbred Sheep
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Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the effect of feeding roughage hay on production efficiency and economic return in crossbred sheep. A completely randomized design was employed on Santa Ines crossbred sheep from 16 animals and divided into 4 groups. The average initial body weights of all animals were 16.87±0.97 kilograms and the average final weight were 23.25±1.07 kilograms under 60 days feeding period. Four groups were fed with fresh grass (para grass) at 3.5 kg/head/day (T1; Control group), para grass hay at 1.5 kg/head/day (T2), ruzi grass hay at 1.5 kg/head/day (T3), and pangola grass hay at 1.5 kg/head/day (T4). All animals received concentrate with 14 %CP 0.2 kg/head/day throughout the period of the study. The results showed that animals in the 4 groups had no difference in weight gain and average daily gain (P>0.05). Total dry matter intakes of groups 1-4 were found to be 2.86±0.08, 1.28±0.09, 1.27±0.09 and 1.34±0.08 kgDM/head/day (P<0.01), respectively. Total dry matter intakes of protein were 0.09±0.01, 0.07±0.01, 0.08±0.01 and 0.10±0.01 kgDM/head/day, respectively (P<0.01). Total dry matter intake per body weight of group 1 was 16.99% of body weight, which was significantly higher than other groups (P<0.01). Blood metabolites such as blood glucose in range 63.94-70.04 mg/dl, and blood urea nitrogen in the range 13.44-17.13 mg/dl were found to be in the normal range (P>0.05). The total production costs per head of the four groups averaged 224.78±3.72, 240.42±3.73, 240.13±3.73 and 245.71±3.72 baht/head (P<0.01) and total production costs per weight gain were found to be 38.78±7.90, 37.93±7.92, 38.85±7.92 and 48.79±7.90 baht/head, respectively.
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King Mongkut's Agricultural Journal
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