NUTRIENTS INTAKE AND DIGESTIBILITY OF GROWING YANKASA RAMS FED SESAME STRAW BASED RATION WITH DIFFERENT NITROGEN SOURCES

A 12 week trial was conducted to determine the nutrient intake and nutrient digestibility of growing yankasa Rams fed sesame straw based total mixed ration with different nitrogen sources.Sixteen(16) growing yankasa rams were assigned into four(4) treatment diet coded as T1(sesame straw with urea),T2(sesame straw mixed with poultry litter),T3(sesame straw mixed with cotton seed cake),T4(sesame straw mixed with groundnut hulms).In each treatment,the rams were distributed into four(4) replication in a complete randomized design.Feed and water were supplied adlibitum. Data generated were analysed using (ANOVA).the general linear analysis.Daily feed intake (DFI) ranged from 1.08 kg (T1) to 1.22 kg (T4), with significant differences (p < 0.001). Total feed intake (TFI) varied from 90.72–102.48 kg (p > 0.05). Feed conversion ratio (FCR) ranged from 11.14 to 13.64, while dry matter intake as % body weight (DMI %BW) was higher in T3 and T4 (4.88%) than in T1 and T2 (4.32–4.36%). Nutrient digestibility coefficients were high across treatments: DM (78.14–84.20%), CP (78.14–84.58%), CF (76.03–82.68%), EE (78.45–80.78%), and ash (64.16–71.48%), with no significant differences (p > 0.05). Sesame straw can be effectively incorporated into Yankasa ram diets to support adequate feed intake and nutrient utilization. For improved feed efficiency, diets should be balanced with appropriate protein supplements.