Superior oat (Avena sativa) genotypes enhance growth performance and nutrient efficiency in Bonga lambs fed total mixed rations.

Evaluating forage genotypes is crucial for mitigating nutritional deficiencies and optimizing production in tropical small horn systems. This study investigated the effects of incorporating different Avena sativa genotypes (5526A, SRCPX80AB2806, and 5527A) into total mixed rations on nutrient intake, apparent digestibility, growth performance, and economic returns in yearling Bonga lambs under specific experimental conditions. Thirty intact male yearling lambs were assigned to three dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design over a 90-day feeding trial. The diets were formulated to be isocaloric and isonitrogenous (18.5% crude protein and 10.34 MJ/kg metabolizable energy). The results demonstrated that genotype 5527A (Treatment 3) significantly improved dry matter intake, apparent digestibility, and average daily gains compared to the other evaluated genotypes. Specifically, lambs on the 5527A-based diet exhibited superior average daily gains and enhanced feed conversion efficiency. Furthermore, partial budget analysis indicated higher net economic returns under the conditions of this trial. However, these findings are limited to the specific breed, forage management practices, and production system evaluated. While these results highlight the potential of utilizing superior forage genotypes to improve smallholder productivity, further multi-environment evaluations are necessary before broader generalizations can be made.