Feed intake, water balance and water economy in highland sheep fed teff (Eragrostis teff) straw and supplemented with graded levels of Leucaena leucocephala

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of L. leucocephala supplementation on feed intake, water balance and water economy in highland sheep fed teff straw as basal diet. Sixteen young male sheep of uniform weight were assigned in a completely randomized design to the following feeding treatments: ad libitum teff straw (T 1, control), supplemented with 60 (T2), 120 (T3) or 180 (T4) g head 'day 1 air dried leaves of L. leucocephala. Supplementation increased straw (p<0.01) and total feed (p<0.001) intakes, total water turnover as well as all avenues of water gains and losses (p