Abstract

A total of forty Horro rams with an average initial body weight 19.5 kg were randomly assigned to one of the following five treatments with eight replicates: 184.2 g ground maize grain (T1), 140 g ground maize grain + 60 g molasses (T2), 90 g ground maize grain + 120 g molasses (T3), 50 g ground maize grain + 180 g molasses (T4), 240 g molasses (T5). In addition to the treatment diets, all groups were supplemented with equal amount of noug cake (190 g/d) and 1% of salt to provide the protein and minerals requirements, respectively. Cyndon dactyl hay was used ad libitum as a basal diet. There was a significant (p<0.05) difference between Treatments 1 and 5 for total weight gain and average daily weight gain of Horro rams but there was no significant difference between and within the reaming treatments. Rams fed on Treatment 1 showed higher daily weight gain (73.4 g/d/h) followed by Treatments 2, 3, 4 and 5 (59.1, 53.8, 51.9 and 40.9 g/d/h, respectively). Rams fed on Treatment 1 had higher carcass weight (11.6 kg) and dressing percentage (45.2%) followed by Treatments 2, 3, 4 and 5, respectively. The cost benefit analysis indicated that substituting 44.2 g of maize grain by 60 g molasses had showed higher net benefit of Birr 20.69 next to the previously recommended amount of maize grain in Treatment 1 with a net benefit of 30.71 Birr/head of animal. This indicates that fattening using Treatments 1 and 2 were found to be economical and increased a net return at least by 50.0%. The results showed that Horro rams fed on Treatment 2 had showed higher live weight gain, carcass traits and net benefit next to the already recommended Treatment 1. Thus, recommended levels of molasses can replace maize grain and one can use molasses as energy sources in a concentrate supplements for fattening Horro rams.

Key words: Weight gain, carcass, economic, Horro sheep, molasses, maize grain.