Milk Yield of West African Dwarf Sheep fed Mexican Sunflower Leaf Meal based Diet

A study was carried out to estimate the milk yield of West African Dwarf (WAD) ewe fed Mexican Sunflower Leaf Meal (MSLM) on a basal diet of Panicum maximum (Pm). Sixteen WAD ewe with age range of 17-18 months and weighing 20.98 ± 1.48kg on a basal diet of Pm were allotted into four treatment groups such that each treatment had four replicates of four ewes. The MSL replaced wheat bran (WB) gravimetrically at 0, 15, 30 and 45%. Diets were formulated on a DM basis. Animals on treatment A served as control while animals in treatments B, C and D received Mexican Sunflower Leaf Meal (MSLM) at 15, 30 and 45% respectively. Feed and water were provided ad libitum and routine vaccinations and medications administered. The experiment lasted for thirteen weeks (91 days). Assessment of milk started in day 2 after lambing to enable lambs suckles colostrum. Lambs were kept separately from ewes and were only allowed together at periods of suckling. Milk production of the ewes were estimated by the direct method of weighing lambs before and after suckling using a sensitive weighing balance thrice daily. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA. Overall total milk yield (kg) for the entire lactation period of 13 weeks were 36.7, 37.9, 37.3 and 35.6 kg for treatments A, B, C and D respectively. Variations observed were not significant (P > 0.05). Maximum daily milk production of 0.57 to 0.50 kg was obtained for WAD ewe. Average daily yield ranged from 0.39 to 0.42kg. Maximum weekly milk yield (3.99kg) was attained during the third week of lactation after which production declined. Feeding up to 30% Mexican sunflower leaf meal to West African dwarf ewe enhanced milk yield without deleterious effect.