Intake and growth performance of growing Uda rams fed diets containing different proportions of urea-treated millet husk as a replacement of cowpea husk

A sixty-three-day feeding trial investigated the nutrient intake and growth performance of growing Uda rams fed diets containing different proportions of urea-treated millet husk to replace cowpea husk. Sixteen growing Uda rams with a mean weight of 18 kg and aged 12 – 18 months were used for the study. Animals were balanced for weights and allotted into four dietary treatments with four (4) animals per treatment in a Completely Randomized Design. Urea-treated millet panicle husk proportions of 0:30, 10:20, 20:10, and 30:0 to replace cowpea husk was formulated as a complete diet consisting of wheat bran, cowpea husk, soybeans mill, and salt. The diets were designated as T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively. The animals were fed the complete diets ad libitum at 1.5% of individual body weight. Data generated were subjected to analysis of variance. Differences in means were compared using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test. The results revealed that animals fed 10% and 20% Millet husk diet were better compared to those placed on 30% millet husk in terms of, dry matter intake, weight gain, and nutrient digestibility. The findings also show that Millet husk could be supplemented in the diets of sheep up to 20% without detrimental effects on the growth performance of Uda rams.