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<p>A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of supplementing alfalfa (<i>Medicago sativa L.</i>) hay and urea molasses block (UMB) on carcass characteristics of yearling local sheep fed grass hay as a basal diet. Twenty-four yearling intact male local sheep with a mean initial body weight of 23.9 ± 1.9&#xa0;kg were used in a completely randomized block design. Animals received either 1% (T1), 1.5% (T2), or 2.0% (T3) of live weight alfalfa hay, each with 100&#xa0;g/head/day of UMB. The control group (T4) received a concentrate mix at 2.0% of live weight. All treatments had <i>ad libitum</i> access to grass hay. The feeding trial lasted for 84 days. T4 showed significantly higher pre-slaughter weight, slaughter weight, hot carcass weight, empty body weight, and dressing percentage (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05) compared to treatments with alfalfa and UMB. Lambs in T4 also produced significantly heavier primal cuts and edible offal components. The results indicate that concentrate supplementation at 2% of body weight led to superior hot carcass and primal cut weights relative to the graded levels of alfalfa combined with UMB. However, T2 and T3 achieved satisfactory dressing percentages, suggesting reasonable biological performance. Therefore, T3, supplemented with 2% alfalfa hay and 100&#xa0;g/day UMB, may serve as a viable alternative to concentrate when availability is limited. This alternative could support carcass yield goals while reducing reliance on conventional concentrate feeds in smallholder sheep production systems.</p>

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Effect of supplementation of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) hay and urea molasses block on carcass characteristics of yearling rift Valley sheep fed grass hay as a basal diet

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年7月21日

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  • Shambel Kiros,
  • Mengistu Urge,
  • Likawent Yeheyis

摘要

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of supplementing alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) hay and urea molasses block (UMB) on carcass characteristics of yearling local sheep fed grass hay as a basal diet. Twenty-four yearling intact male local sheep with a mean initial body weight of 23.9 ± 1.9 kg were used in a completely randomized block design. Animals received either 1% (T1), 1.5% (T2), or 2.0% (T3) of live weight alfalfa hay, each with 100 g/head/day of UMB. The control group (T4) received a concentrate mix at 2.0% of live weight. All treatments had ad libitum access to grass hay. The feeding trial lasted for 84 days. T4 showed significantly higher pre-slaughter weight, slaughter weight, hot carcass weight, empty body weight, and dressing percentage (p < 0.05) compared to treatments with alfalfa and UMB. Lambs in T4 also produced significantly heavier primal cuts and edible offal components. The results indicate that concentrate supplementation at 2% of body weight led to superior hot carcass and primal cut weights relative to the graded levels of alfalfa combined with UMB. However, T2 and T3 achieved satisfactory dressing percentages, suggesting reasonable biological performance. Therefore, T3, supplemented with 2% alfalfa hay and 100 g/day UMB, may serve as a viable alternative to concentrate when availability is limited. This alternative could support carcass yield goals while reducing reliance on conventional concentrate feeds in smallholder sheep production systems.