Alkoiret et al., 2007. Livest. Res. Rural Dev., 19 (10): 141

This research was carried out at the sheep national centre of the stock farm of Betecoucou (Breeding Development Project III). 30 Djallonke [West African Dwarf] sheep averaging 17.92.1 kg and 362.96.7 days of age were divided into three feeding groups of ten each and all received Panicum maximum forage. Animals in Group 1 were supplemented with cottonseed cake (R1), Group 2 received SHB animal feed (60% of cottonseed cake and 40% of cotton shell, R2) and Group 3 was fed a diet of 50% of cottonseed cake and 50% SHB (R3). After an adaptation period of 15 days, the sheep were fattened for 60 days. There were no significant ( P>0.05) differences in growth performances between the 3 groups. Daily average weight gains were 82.5, 90.0 and 88.3 g and feed conversion ratios (FCR) of dry matter were 12.9, 12.0 and 11.9 kg for R1, R2 and R3, respectively. However, FCR of nitrogen digestible matter of R1 was higher ( P<0.05) by 41.2 and 21.8% in R2 and R3, respectively. The carcass characteristics also showed no significant ( P>0.05) difference between parameters studied. Net carcass yields were 54.3, 55.8 and 55.1% for R1, R2 and R3, respectively. Using SHB animal feed (R2) produced a net profit superior to 1570 F. CFA and 605 F. CFA in groups R1 and R3, respectively.