Scientists in Ethiopia tested whether leaves from a local plant called dawri-damaa could help sheep grow better and cost less to feed. They fed different amounts of these protein-rich leaves to 20 young male sheep over three months. The sheep that ate more of the plant leaves ate more food overall, absorbed nutrients better, and were more profitable to raise. This could help small farmers in Ethiopia save money on feed while keeping their sheep healthy, since the plant grows locally and costs less than imported feed.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether leaves from a local Ethiopian plant called dawri-damaa could replace expensive feed for sheep
  • Who participated: 20 young male sheep from the Dawuro breed in Southwestern Ethiopia over 90 days
  • Key finding: Sheep eating more plant leaves ate 50% more food daily and absorbed nutrients 25% better than those on regular feed
  • What it means for you: If you’re a small-scale sheep farmer in similar regions, local high-protein plants might reduce feed costs while improving sheep health

The Research Details

Researchers divided 20 young male sheep into four groups and fed them different amounts of dawri-damaa leaves mixed with grass hay and corn. One group got no plant leaves (the control), while the other three groups got 30%, 50%, or 70% of their protein from the leaves. They measured how much the sheep ate, how well they digested their food, and tracked their health over 90 days. The scientists also did a special 10-day test to see exactly how well the sheep absorbed different nutrients from each diet.

This type of controlled feeding study is the gold standard for testing new animal feeds because it directly compares different diets while keeping everything else the same. By testing multiple levels of the plant leaves, researchers could find the best amount to use.

The study used proper scientific methods with control groups and multiple measurements over time. However, it was relatively small with only 20 sheep and tested just one breed in one location, so results may not apply everywhere.

What the Results Show

The dawri-damaa leaves contained much more protein (17.74%) than regular grass hay (7.98%) or corn (8.40%). As researchers added more plant leaves to the diet, sheep ate significantly more food overall - from about 632 grams per day with no leaves up to 957 grams per day with 70% leaves. More importantly, the sheep digested their food much better, absorbing 71% of nutrients with the highest leaf diet compared to only 57% on the control diet. The sheep on diets with 50% and 70% plant leaves showed the best improvements in absorbing protein, fiber, and other important nutrients.

The economic analysis showed promising results, with farmers potentially earning an extra 183 Ethiopian Birr (about $3-4 USD) per sheep when using the plant leaves. This might seem small, but for smallholder farmers with many sheep, these savings add up significantly over time.

This appears to be one of the first studies to test dawri-damaa leaves as sheep feed, so there’s limited previous research to compare. However, the protein content and digestibility improvements are similar to what scientists have found with other high-protein local plants in different regions.

The study only tested one breed of sheep in one specific region of Ethiopia, so results might not apply to other sheep breeds or climates. The researchers also only looked at short-term effects over 90 days and didn’t test what happens with even higher amounts of the plant leaves.

The Bottom Line

Small-scale sheep farmers in Southwestern Ethiopia and similar regions may benefit from gradually introducing dawri-damaa leaves as 50-70% of their sheep’s protein source, while monitoring animal health closely. Start with smaller amounts and increase slowly to avoid digestive upset.

This research is most relevant for smallholder sheep farmers in Ethiopia and potentially other East African regions where this plant grows naturally. Farmers in other parts of the world should look for similar locally available, high-protein plants rather than trying to import this specific species.

The study showed improvements within 90 days, but farmers should expect to see changes in appetite and body condition within 2-4 weeks of switching feeds gradually.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily feed costs per sheep and weekly body weight changes when introducing new local feed sources
  • Research and test locally available, high-protein plants as partial feed replacements, starting with small amounts and monitoring animal health
  • Log feed costs, animal weights, and health indicators monthly to evaluate the economic and nutritional impact of alternative feed sources over time

This research was conducted with specific sheep breeds in Ethiopia. Before changing your animals’ diet, consult with a local veterinarian or animal nutritionist familiar with your region, climate, and livestock breeds. Always introduce new feeds gradually and monitor animal health closely.