The study was conducted at Ambo University using twenty five Horro sheep with initial body weight of 16.84±0.23kg (mean±SD). The objectives of the experiment was to evaluate the impact of replacing concentrate ration with varying proportions of Lablab purpureus hay on the growth performance and economic returns of Horro rams. The experimental sheep were blocked into five blocks of five animals based on their initial body weight and randomly assigned to one of the five treatment diets within a block. The treatments were natural grass hay fed ad libitum to all treatments plus 100% CM/day (T1, control supplemented), 75%CM: 25%LP/day (T2), 50%CM: 50%LP/day (T3), 25%CM: 75%LP/day (T4), 100%LP/day (T5). The feeding trial lasted 90 days and body weight change was recorded at 7 days interval. The mean intake of basal DM in T5 (523.4±3.13 g/d) was greater (P<0.001) than in T1, T2, T3 and T4 by 86.2, 63.2, 49 and 24.6%respectively. The supplemented animals had higher (P<0.001) total DM intake (860.2-923.4g/d; SEM±3.07) than the control supplemented (837.2±3.07g/d) and the higher (P<0.001) total CP intake of 117.58, 118.79, 120.75 and 122.73 g/d (SE±0.23) for T2, T3, T4 and T5, respectively were recorded than T1 (115.7±0.23 g/d). LP Supplementation improved (P<0.001) final body weight (FBW) and average daily gain (ADG). Lambs fed T5 diet displayed higher (P<0.001) FBW (22.52±0.074kg) and ADG (63.5±0.76g/d) as compared to T1 (20.78±0.07kg) and (41.76±0.76/d) for FBW and ADG, respectively. Sheep supplemented with sole 400g/d LP (T5) showed the highest rate of return. Therefore, in the present study supplementation of Lablab purpureus to natural grass hay at 400 g appears to be the best feeding practice for Horro sheep both biologically and economically.
Keywords: Body Weight Gain, Concentrate, Economic return, Horro ram, Lablab purpureus