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Abstract
Ebro, A., Nsahlai, I.V., Yami, A. and Umunna, N.N. 2004. Effect of supplementing graded levels of forage legumes on performance of crossbred calves fed Tef (Eragrostis tef) straw. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 26: 107–112.
To examine the effect of feeding graded levels of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) and lablab hay (Lablab purpureus) on feed intake, weight gain, digestibility and utilization of nutrients, Friesian x Boran (Zebu) crossbred calves were fed ad libitum tef straw alone or supplemented with three levels (0.5, 1 and 1.5% of body weight) of either cowpea or lablab hay. Fifty-six and 28 calves were used for the growth and digestibility studies, respectively. Supplementation increased total dry matter, organic matter, nitrogen, gross energy and digestible energy intakes. Furthermore, increasing levels of supplementation increased average daily gain, nitrogen digestibility and nitrogen retention. Cowpea and lablab did not differ (P<0.05) from each other and thus are equally efficient in improving feed intake, nutrient digestibility and utilization for growth. Supplementation of calves with cowpea or lablab hay at levels lower than 1% of body weight may not substitute for the basal roughage.