Moringa stenopetala Leaves and Cafeteria Leftover as Nonconventional Supplements in the Diets of Local Gamo Sheep: Nutrient Utilization, Growth Performance and Economic Efficiency

BACKGROUND: Strategic supplementation of unexploited, cheap, less competitive and easily accessible protein sources of nonconventional origin was considered as a feasible alternative way to mitigate protein deficiency in poor-quality feeds during periods of feed scarcity OBJECTIVE: To determine the comparative effects of supplementing Moringa stenopetala and cafeteria leftovers on nutrient uptake, weight gain and economic viability in local Gamo sheep. METHOD: A total of 20 yearling lambs were used in four treatments with five replicates in randomized complete block design. The treatments included grass hay (GH) + 125 g concentrate mix (CM) for treatment 1 (T1), GH + 125 g CM + 300 g Moringa stenopetala leaves (MSL) (T2), GH + 125 g CM + 300 g cafeteria leftover (CLO) (T3) and GH + 125 g CM + 150 g MSL + 150 g CLO (T4). A 90-day feeding trial was followed by a 10-day digestibility investigation. The study used SAS 9.0 for data analysis, Duncan multiple range test for mean separation and partial budget analysis for financial feasibility testing. RESULTS: With better responses in T4 followed by T2, T3 and T1, supplementation significantly improved total DM, nutritional intakes and apparent digestibility (p < 0.001). The two nonconventional supplements resulted in an average daily gain of 44.00 g (T2) and 25.33 g (T3) when independently and 54.33 g (T4) concurrently. Blended supplementation of the nonconventional feeds had better marginal returns (2.21) than when MSL (1.96) and CLO (1.34) were supplemented solely. CONCLUSION: For smallholders having plenty of cafeteria leftovers and M. stenopetala leaves, feeding blends of the ingredients is more profitable than feeding solely. Conversely, provided that they are comparably available, sole supplementation of M. stenopetala to growing animals is more advantageous to get improved animal performance and obtain better economic returns than sole supplementation of cafeteria leftovers.