Carcass Characteristics of Yankasa Ewes Fed Varying Levels of Dietary Premix

Twenty five Yankasa ewes with average live weight of 10-15kg and aged 6-7 months were used for the trial and they were randomly allocated to five (5) treatment groups comprising of five animals per treatment and with each animal as replicate. All animals were placed on 5 dietary treatments consisting of 5inclusions levels in a Complete Randomized Design .The experimental dietary premix formulated were 0% as a control, 25% LPP, 50% LPP, 75% LPP and 10% LPP were used to determine which dietary premix will give the best or highest dietary needs and the inclusion levels. Dietary premix was administered to the animals with clean water ad-libitum in the morning, in a confined environment. The results revealed that live weight was significantly (P<0.05) different between T1, T3 and T4 and as well as between T2 and T5. However, T5 had the highest value. Significant (P<0.05) difference was observed between T1, T4 and T5 of the slaughter weight with T5 recording the highest value 31.31kg the dressed weight also significantly (P<0.05) differ between T1 and T5, with T5 maintaining the highest value. T1 and T3 of the Hot Dressed weight significantly (P>0.05) differ from T5. However, T5 had the highest value. There were no significant (P>0.05) difference observed in the dressing per cent, head, skin, feet, full stomach, empty stomach, empty small intestine, large intestine, heart and kidney. Significant (P<0.05) difference was observed between T1, T2 and T4, T5 and also between T2 and T3 of the Liver. However, T5 had the highest value of 0.41kg. Significant (P<0.05) difference was observed across treatment groups. The Lung was significantly (P<0.05) different across treatment groups. T1 was significantly (P<0.05) different from T2, T3, T4, and T5. T5 was however higher in value. Significant (P<0.05) difference was also observed in the Trachea across treatment groups. T2 was significantly different from T1, T3, T4 and T5. Significant (P<0.05) difference was observed in the Spleen with T1 having the highest value. T1, T2, T3 were significantly (P<0.05) different T4 and T5. The Tail was significantly (P<0.05) different across the treatments with T4 having the highest value of 0.29kg. The Bladder was however, not significantly (P>0.05) different across treatment groups but has T2 recording the highest value of 0.02kg. Carcass yield was increased with increasing level of supplementation while integrity of the relative organs characteristics was maintained. The best result was obtained when Yankasa ewes fed dietary premix at 50-100 % levels of inclusion. It is therefore recommended that more feeding trials be conducted to ascertain the nutritive value and its suitability as feedstuff for small ruminants particularly during feed scarcity for improved performance and productivity.