Abstract

It was hypothesised that hay type will affect feed intake and growth with significant interactions between breeds of sheep. Ten rams aged between 18 and 24 months and weighing 24.70, 25.50 and 24.75 each of Balami, Uda and Yankasa indigenous breeds of sheep in a complete randomised design with a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement were used. The rams were fed Brachiaria decumbens or Digitaria smutsii hay supplemented with concentrate at 1 % of their body weight. The trial lasted 90 days after 14 days adjustment period to the diets. Individual animal basal and supplementary concentrate feed intakes were recorded daily and liveweights were measured fortnightly. Data were analysed using SAS. Results of breed effect showed that Balami and Uda had significantly (P

Key words: Breed, Concentrate, Feedlot, Growth, Hay type, Interaction