Carcass Characteristics of Yankasa Ewes Fed Varying
Levels of Dietary Premix
Volume 4 - Issue 4
Ramalan SM1*, Alagbe JO2, Olafadehan OA3, Adeyemo B T4, Ubah SA5 and Oluwafemi RA6
- 1Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Abuja, Nigeria
- 2Department of Animal Nutrition, Sumitra Research Institute, Gujarat, India
- 3,6Department of Animal Science, University of Abuja, Nigeria
- 4Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Abuja, Nigeria
- 5Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Abuja, Nigeria
Received: June 06, 2021; Published: August 10, 2021
Corresponding author: Ramalan SM, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Abuja, Nigeria
DOI: 10.32474/CDVS.2021.04.000192
Abstract
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Twenty-five Yankasa ewes with average live weight of 10-15 kg and aged 6-7 months were used for the trial and they were
randomly allocated to five (5) treatment groups comprising of five animals per treatment and with each animal as replicate. All
animals were placed on 5 dietary treatments consisting of 5inclusions levels in a Complete Randomized Design. The experimental
dietary premix formulated were 0 % as a control, 25 % LPP, 50 % LPP, 75 % LPP and 100 % LPP were used to determine which
dietary premix will give the best or highest dietary needs and the inclusion levels. Dietary premix was administered to the animals
with clean water ad-libitum in the morning, in a confined environment. The results revealed that live weight was significantly
(P<0.05) different between T1, T3 and T4 and as well as between T2 and T5. However, T5 had the highest value. Significant (P<0.05)
difference was observed between T1, T4 and T5 of the slaughter weight with T5 recording the highest value 31.31kg the dressed
weight also significantly (P<0.05) differs between T1 and T5, with T5 maintaining the highest value. T1 and T3 of the Hot Dressed
weight significantly (P>0.05) differ from T5. However, T5 had the highest value. There was no significant (P>0.05) difference
observed in the dressing percent, head, skin, feet, full stomach, empty stomach, empty small intestine, large intestine, heart and
kidney. Significant (P<0.05) difference was observed between T1, T2 and T4, T5 and between T2 and T3 of the Liver. However, T5
had the highest value of 0.41kg. Significant (P<0.05) difference was observed across treatment groups. The Lung was significantly
(P<0.05) different across treatment groups. T1 was significantly (P<0.05) different from T2, T3, T4, and T5. T5 was however higher
in value. Significant (P<0.05) difference was also observed in the Trachea across treatment groups. T2 was significantly different
from T1, T3, T4 and T5. Significant (P<0.05) difference was observed in the Spleen with T1 having the highest value. T1, T2, T3 were
significantly (P<0.05) different T4 and T5. The Tail was significantly (P<0.05) different across the treatments with T4 having the
highest value of 0.29kg. The Bladder was however, not significantly (P>0.05) different across treatment groups but has T2 recording
the highest value of 0.02kg. Carcass yield was increased with increasing level of supplementation while integrity of the relative
organ’s characteristics was maintained. The best result was obtained when Yankasa ewes fed dietary premix at 50-100 % levels of
inclusion. It is therefore recommended that more feeding trials be conductedto ascertain the nutritive value and its suitability as
feedstuff for small ruminants particularly during feed scarcity for improved performance and productivity.
Keywords:Carcass; Yankasa; Ewes; Premix; Abuja; Nigeria
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Introduction|
Materials and Methods|
Results and Discussion|
Conclusion and Recommendation|
References|