Weight Change, Carcass Characteristic and Economic Benefit of Yearling Hararghe Highland Rams Fed Diet Containing Concentrate Mixtures and Sugarcane Bagasse or Rice Husk Treated with Trichoderma viride and Effective Microorganisms

Abstract A study was conducted to evaluate body weight change, carcass characteristics and economic benefit of Hararghe highland sheep fed biological treated Rice husk (RH) or sugarcane bagasse (SCB) in total mixed diet. Thirty six sheep with initial weight of 18±1.8kg (mean±SD) were used. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) in 2x3 factorial arrangements consisting two feeds (SCB and RH) and three biological treatments (Control, Trichoderma viride (Tv) and effective microorganism (EM)) was employed. The study period lasted for 90 days of fattening. The total mixed diet was fed adlibitum at a rate of 20% refusal. The result indicated that sheep fed diet contained RH as roughage source had significantly (p<0.05) higher carcass weight, dressing percentage, rib eye muscle area, total non carcass fat and total edible offal components than sheep fed SCB diet. Sheep fed diet contained biological treated feed had significantly (p<0.05) higher hot carcass weight and dressing percentage while other parameters were not affected by treatments. There was no significant difference between diets based on roughage based on Tv and EM treated. Profitability analysis indicated that fattening sheep with diet based on RH and biological treated by-products displayed greater profitability than SCB and untreated. It is concluded that fattening of sheep with Rice husk (RH) and sugarcane bagasse treated with Trichoderma viride and effective microorganism (EM) yield more carcass and fetch better profit, but optimum inclusion levels need other investigation particularly for sugarcane bagasse (SCB).