Performance of Young Sheep Fed Maize Bran and Groundnut Hay Supplemented with Sodium Chloride

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the effect of common salt supplementation on the performance of young sheep fed maize bran and ground nut hay as basal diet. It covered a period of 12 weeks. A 3×3 Latin square design was employed in the experiment. The daily feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion efficiency were measured during the experimental period. Results showed that the inclusion of common salt at the level of 1.0% of feed had no significant effect on feed intake (p>0.05). There was depressed feed intake as quantity of salt increased from 0.0%, to 0.5% and 1.0%. The best mean average daily weight gain of 43.45%was obtained with the 1.0% treatment. Salt inclusion up to 1.0% level in sheep ration, had no adverse effect on performance, it rather gave a more favorable weight gain and conversion efficiency. These findings are of very practical significance in sheep fattening, especially for farmers in rural setups.