Supplementation of Mulberry (Morus indica) and Vernonia (V. amygdalina) leaves as protein source on morphometric measurement, weight change, and carcass characteristics of sheep

Table 5 Carcass parameters of Bonga lambs fed on Rhodes grass hay basal diet and supplemented with mulberry and Vernonia mixed leaves meal as a protein source

Parameters	Treatments (diets)					SEM	F-value	SL
Parameters	D1	D2	D3	D4	D5	SEM	F-value	SL
Slaughter body weight (kg)	29.1	28.7	28.2	28.5	26.4	0.65	2.68	ns
Empty body weight(kg)	25.3^a	24.9^a	24.1^a	24.3^a	21.6^b	0.6	5.45	**
Hot carcass weight (kg)	14.1^a	13.5^a	12.7^a	12.8^a	10.6^b	0.45	9.92	**
DPSBW (%)	48.3^a	46.9^ab	44.7^b	45.0^b	39.9^c	0.83	19.39	***
DPEBW (%)	55.7^a	54.3^a	52.5^a	52.3^a	48.8^b	0.98	8.82	***
REMA (cm²)	12.8^a	13.6^a	12.0^a	12.4^a	9.0^b	0.64	7.48	***

^a,b,cMean values with different superscripts within a row are significantly different at **=(p < 0.01); ***= (P < 0.001); SEM standard error of means, SL Significant level, ns non-significant, DPSBW dressing percentage on Slaughter body weight basis, DPEBW dressing percentage on empty body weight basis, REMA rib-eye muscle area, D1 Rhodes grass hay adlibtum + 100% concentrate mix, D2 Rhodes grass hay adlibtum + 75% Noug Seed Cake (NSC) and 25% Mulberry and Vernonia mixed leaves meal, D3 Rhodes grass hay adlibtum + 50% NSC and 50% Mulberry and Vernonia mixed leaves meal, D4 Rhodes grass hay adlibtum + 25% NSC and 75% Mulberry and Vernonia mixed leaves meal, D5 Rhodes grass hay adlibtum + 100% Mulberry and Vernonia mixed leaves meal

ISSN: 2662-4044