Performance of Arsi-Bale kids supplemented with graded levels of pigeonpea in dry season in Mid Rift valley of Ethiopia

Abstract

Free grazing/browsing Arsi-Bale kids in dry season were supplemented with different levels of dried pigeon pea (Cajanus cajun) leaves to study its effect on weight gain. Kids browsed freely (PP0), and/or supplemented with 66 g (PP66), 99 g (PP99) and 132 g (PP132 PP) of sun dried pigeon pea leaves. Supplementation significantly (P<0.05) increased average daily gain of kids but there was no significant (P<0.05) difference between kids supplemented with PP99 and PP132 g in terms of total weight gain. There was a significance difference among treatments for net profit and the highest net profit was obtained for PP99. Therefore, supplementing kid with PP99 dried pigeon pea leaves was found to be the most profitable level for rift valley kid under farmer condition in dry season.