Feed intake, digestibility and growth performance of Dorper-Menz cross bred sheep fed local brewery by-product (Atella) and concentrate mixture at different levels of combination

The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of graded level of local brewery by-product (atella) replacement to concentrate mixture on feed intake; digestibility and bodyweight change of Dorper-Menz crossbred lambs fed hay basal diet. The feeding period of 90 days was preceded by 15 days of acclimatization period. The experimental design was randomized complete block design with five treatments: T1 [control, hay ad libtium], T2 [25% atella + 75% concentrate mix]; T3 [50% atella + 50% concentrate mix]; T4 [75% atella + 25% concentrate mix] and T5 [100% atella]. Body weight changes were monitored fortnightly for 112 days. At the end of experiment, animals were fitted with feces collection bags and daily feces excretion was collected for seven days. Fecal output of each animal was thoroughly mixed and 20% of the voided feces were sampled to make a composite of fecal samples for each animal over the collection period. The fecal samples were stored frozen at -20°C until processing for chemical analysis. Data on feed intake, body weight change, and digestibility were subjected to analysis of variance using the General Linear Model procedure. The protein and energy contents of atella are high enough to increase intake, digestibility and could be categorized as medium protein feed. Atella alone or at different level with commercial concentrate mixture has significantly increased body weight gain of crossbred sheep. The positive weight gain results of atella supplemented group clearly indicate supplementation of dried atella could be recommended for fattening Dorper-Menz crossbred male lamb. Atella may lose some volatile nutrients during drying process and further research is needed to compare wet atella with dried one.