Work

Effects of replacing cottonseed cake with mung bean straw on feed intake, nutrient digestibility, growth performance, and economic returns of simien sheep fed natural pasture hay

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Background Sheep production plays an important role in the livelihoods of rural households and contributes substantially to food security, income generation, and the national economy in Ethiopia. However, the productivity of indigenous sheep breeds remains constrained by inadequate nutrition and seasonal shortages of quality feed resources. Therefore, this study evaluated the effects of replacing cottonseed cake (CSC) with different proportions of mung bean straw (MBS) on feed intake, nutrient digestibility, growth performance, and economic returns of Simien sheep fed natural pasture hay. Materials and methods The experiment was conducted at the University of Gondar Livestock Farm during 2025–2026. Twenty yearling intact male Simien sheep with an initial body weight of 16.0 ± 0.71 kg (mean ± SD) were assigned to five dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design with four replications. The treatments consisted of ad libitum natural pasture hay supplemented with 300 g head⁻¹ day⁻¹ of T1 (100% CSC), T2 (75% CSC + 25% MBS), T3 (50% CSC + 50% MBS), T4 (25% CSC + 75% MBS), and T5 (100% MBS). Feed intake, nutrient digestibility, body weight change, feed conversion efficiency, and economic returns were evaluated. Results Total dry matter intake was significantly affected by dietary treatment ( P < 0.05), with the highest intake recorded in T4 (884.60 g day⁻¹). Crude protein intake differed among treatments ( P < 0.001), ranging from 94.97 g day⁻¹ in T5 to 113.66 g day⁻¹ in T2. Dry matter and organic matter digestibility were not significantly influenced by treatment ( P > 0.05), whereas crude protein and acid detergent fiber digestibility varied significantly among treatments ( P < 0.05). Final body weight, body weight gain, average daily weight gain, and feed conversion efficiency were significantly affected by dietary treatment ( P < 0.001). Numerically, T4 recorded the highest final body weight (26.67 kg), body weight gain (10.75 kg), average daily weight gain (119.43 g day⁻¹), and feed conversion efficiency (0.135); however, these parameters were statistically comparable to those observed in T2. Partial budget analysis showed that the highest net return was obtained from T5 (ETB 2,415.60 head⁻¹), followed by T4 (ETB 2,378.70 head⁻¹). Conclusion Replacement of cottonseed cake with mung bean straw had little effect on most nutrient digestibility and growth performance parameters of Simien sheep fed natural pasture hay. Although dietary treatments influenced feed intake, crude protein digestibility, body weight gain, average daily gain, and feed conversion efficiency, sheep receiving T2 and T4 exhibited comparable growth performance. The results indicate that substantial replacement of cottonseed cake with mung bean straw can be achieved without compromising animal performance. Owing to its lower supplementation cost and higher net return, mung bean straw represents a feasible and economically attractive alternative feed resource for sheep fattening under similar production conditions. Future studies are warranted to confirm these findings under different production systems and agroecological conditions.

Source: Discover Animals

DOI: 10.1007/s44338-026-00273-0