Effects of supplementation on voluntary dry matter intake, growth and nutrient digestibility of the Fiji Fantastic sheep on a basal diet of Guinea grass (Panicum maximum)

Eighteen growing Fiji Fantastic (FF) sheep (nine ram lambs and nine ewe lambs), 5–6 months old, pre-experimental average body weight of 25.6 ± 0.82 kg were randomly divided into three groups of six and allotted to the treatments designated as A: Guinea grass (Panicum maximum); B: Guinea grass + concentrate mixture; and C: Guinea grass + crushed wheat grain in a completely randomized design experiment that lasted for 92 days. Total DM intake of sheep on forage + concentrate mixture were significantly higher (P < 0.001) than those on forage + crushed wheat grain and forage alone. Average daily gains (ADG) were 30, 75 and 42 g/day for forage, forage + concentrate mixture and forage + crushed wheat grain, respectively. ADG was significantly (P < 0.001) higher in sheep on forage + concentrate mixture. Daily protein intakes and BUN concentration were 3.59, 10.39 and 5.60 g/kg0.75/day; and 6.0, 9.7 and 6.0 mmol/l for sheep on forage alone, forage + concentrate mixture and forage + crushed wheat grain, respectively. BUN and glucose concentrations at the post-experimental period were significantly (P < 0.001) higher in sheep on forage + concentrate mixture. DM, organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), acid detergent lignin (ADL), hemicellulose and energy digestibility were significantly (P < 0.001) higher in sheep on the concentrate mixture while neutral detergent fibre (NDF) digestibility was significantly (P < 0.001) higher in sheep fed crushed wheat grain. Sheep on the concentrate mixture were also significantly (P < 0.002) higher in metabolizable energy intake (MEI). Sheep on concentrate mixture had higher organic matter (OM) and crude protein (CP) digestibility, high DMI and ADG. In conclusion this experiment has provided some relevant lacking information on the average DMI and ADG of the FF sheep and a concentrate mixture of 16.5% CP plus 19.0 MJ GE/kg BW seems ideal to meet the protein and energy requirements of the FF sheep for growth in the tropical environment of Fiji. Finally data obtained also demonstrated the influence of supplementary concentrate feeding on DMI and ADG of the FF sheep.