Beef Finishing on Range Grass and Legume Supplementation: The Unexploited Profitability Option in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands of Kenya

Abstract

The availability of economical and easily accessible feeds that are high in both quantity and quality is a crucial factor in sustainable livestock production. The study aimed to determine the profitability of finishing sheep by supplementing them with protein-rich leguminous feeds. In a completely randomized experimental design, a group of 18 mass-selected dorper yearling sheep, aged 17-19 months and an average body weight of 20.5±2.9Kgs, were assigned into 6 diet experimental units of 3 animals each. Analysis of variance and economic viability analyses showed Bush rye+Desmodium and African fox tail+Lucerne diets as the leading, with net weight gains of 3.0±0.7Kgs and 2.8±0.5Kgs and profitable returns of Ksh 65,979.00 and Ksh 30,906.00 respectively for 100 units’ sheep establishment at the prevailing market live body weight price of Ksh 400/ kg. The selection of a cost-effective legume and the right breed and genetics of the animal were an essential consideration for enhanced enterprise profitability.