Effect of dried Gliricidia sepium leaf supplement on feed intake, digestibility and nitrogen retention in sheep fed dried KW4 elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) ad libitum

摘要: A feeding experiment was conducted to study the effects of supplementation with dried Gliricidia sepium leaves on dry matter (DM) intake, digestibility and nitrogen retention in sheep fed KW4 elephant grass. Four mature rams were grass ad libitum supplemented four levels gliricidia (0, 4, 8 12 g DM kg−1 lwt day−1) a 4 × Latin square design. Supplementation decreased intake (g day−1 or BW0.75 day−1). However, effect total rations not significant (P >; 0.05). Total crude protein significantly < 0.001) increased increasing supplementation. body weight changes 0.05) improved by supplementation; highest coefficient (60.5%) gain (89.3 g/day) obtained at day−1. absorbed retained but no difference level The efficiency N (44.9%) results indicated that supplemention small quantities up enhance utilisation ration. Further increases supplementation, under conditions this experiment, reduced leading substitution basal.