Growth performance, feed intake and nutrient digestibility by Western Baggara cattle fed sorghum stover with different levels of concentrate

Abstract

Twenty-four Western Baggara bulls averaging 313.5± 0.15 Kg were 
stratified according to body weight into four groups and then allotted 
randomly to four treatments. Bulls in treatment I were fed ad libitum on 
concentrate mixture (CM) plus 1 kg of sorghum stover. Bulls in 
treatments 2, 3 and 4 were fed ad libitum on sorghum stover plus 75, 
65 and 55% of ad libitum CM, respectively for 8 weeks. Average daily 
gain was comparable among treatments (P>0.05). Dry matter intake 
and feed conversion ratio progressively increased (P<0.05) as the 
amount of CM offered was decreased. Intakes of dry matter (kg) and 
feed conversion ratio were 9.5, 8.6; 9.7, 10.8; 10.5, 9.5 and 10.5, 9.5 
for bulls given the CM ad libitum, 75, 65 and 55% of ad libitum  CM, 
respectively. Apparent digestibilities of dry matter, organic matter and 
protein were greater (P<0.05) for bulls fed ad libitum,
 and 75% of ad 
libitum.
CM.than for those fed 65 and 55% of ad libitum CM. 
Digestibilities of ether extract, acid detergent fibre and gross energy 
were not significantly affected (P>0.05) by dietary treatments.