PRE EXTENSION DEMONSTRATION OF SWEET LUPIN GRAIN FEEDING FOR WASHERA SHEEP FATTENING AT D/MEWI WATERSHED OF WESTERN AMHARA ETHIOPIA

Abstract

The study was conducted at Debre mewi watershed, western Amhara region, Ethiopia. A total of 10 farmers were selected purposively. A feeding experiment was conducted to evaluate and create awareness on the fattening potential of sweet lupin seed (Lupinus angustifolius L.). A total of nineteen yearling washera sheep with an average initial body weight of 21.9 kg was used for the experiment.  Each sheep was offered 290g sweet lupin grain twice a day, half in the morning before gazing and the rest half after grazing as a dry matter base for 79 days including the adaptation period. The grain was used as a whole form. The feeding result showed that the live weight of experimental animals changed on average from 21.9kg to 29.4kg. The Partial budget analysis result also shows that; the demonstrated fattening technology was profitable with the average net benefit of 275.32 ETB. The sensitivity analysis result showed that if the price of output becomes constant and the price of the inputs rose by 22.38%, it has a positive return. Farmers are interested to introduce and continue the feed into their production system. Therefore, it shall be further scale upped to the potential areas of mid and highland in Amhara Region.