Effect of Urea treated Sorghum husk (Butab) on sheep fattening

Gaafar Abdalla Gaboush Yagoup Effect Of Urea Treated Sorghum Husk (Butab) On Sheep Performance M. Sc in Animal Production Twelve male sheep (18-20 kg BW) were used in this study to determine the feeding value of the urea treated sorghum husk (Butab). The animals were divided into two groups, one group offered sorghum grain, wheat bran, molasses and groundnut cake (conventional diet), and the other group was offered the same ration but 40% of the ration was substituted by urea treated sorghum husk (urea treated sorghum husk diet). Chemical composition, feed intake, dry matter digestibility, weight gain and cost per kg live weight gain were evaluated. Urea treatment significantly increased CP content and reduced the hemi-cellulose. However, feed intake of dry matter was not reduced when the 40% of the concentrated ration was substituted by urea treated husk. However, digestibility of DM, , and CP were not significantly for sheep offered the conventional diet compared with urea treated sorghum husk diet. Moreover, the average daily weight gain was higher in the III conventional diet compared to the urea treated sorghum husk diet. However, the cost of one kg live weight gain for sheep on urea treated sorghum husk diet was lower by 28% than those on conventional diet. In conclusion, urea treated sorghum husk could be used up to 40% in sheep fattening to reduce the production cost and without a significant reduction in weight gain