Impact of Ficus Sycomorus (Shola) Supplementation on Washera Sheep's Performance on Natural Pasture Hay

Abstract

The purpose of the experiment was to determine how adding F. sycomorus leaves, fruit, and their mixes to sheep fed hay as a basal diet affected the animals' ability to digest the feed. Twenty intact male yearling Washera sheep with an initial body weight mean (±SD) of 17.5±0.39 kg were used in the experiment, which was conducted in Gish Abay in Sekela Woreda, West Gojjam Zone. Before the trial began, the animals received vaccinations against anthrax and pasteurellosis, were malformed, and received sprays against internal and external parasites, respectively. For fifteen days, the experimental sheep were acclimated to the treatment diets. The investigation included harness training and a 10-day digestibility testing. Based on the animals' starting body weight, the experiment was set up in five blocks using a randomized complete block design (RCBD), with four animals each block. Within a block, dietary treatments were assigned at random to one of the four treatment diets. Treatments included feeding natural pasture hay freely (un-supplemented: T1), supplementing natural hay with F. sycomorus leaf (Treatment 2: T2), F. sycomorus fruit (Treatment 4; T4), or a 1:1 blend of F. sycomorus leaf and fruit (Treatment 3; T3). On a DM basis, 300 g of supplements were provided daily. Salt and water were freely accessible. In the current investigation, the natural pasture hay had 43.6% acid detergent fiber (ADF), 73.1% neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and 8.0% crude protein (CP). Compared to the supplemented group, the sheep in the unsupplemented treatment had a greater (p<0.001) basal dry matter consumption (581.6 g/day). However, the sheep in the supplemented group (T2-T4) consumed more total DM than the sheep in the unsupplemented (control) group.The digestibility coefficients of DM, organic matter (OM), and CP were all markedly enhanced by supplementation (P<0.001). In comparison to the unsupplemented group, supplementation also improved the digestion of NDF and ADF (P<0.001). Therefore, it may be said that overall, supplementation enhanced animal performance. However, T2 is the most biologically optimal of the supplements.