Healthy Horro sheep grazing in a maize field, symbolizing sustainable sheep farming.

Unlock Your Sheep's Potential: The Surprising Benefits of Supplementing Maize Husk Diets

Elliot Brynn in Science & Nature August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how strategic feed choices can dramatically improve the health and market value of your livestock, turning overlooked resources into profitable outcomes."

For farmers in developing countries like Ethiopia, raising sheep is a vital part of their livelihoods. These animals aren't just livestock; they're a source of income and food security, essential for household consumption and generating revenue.

However, maximizing the potential of these flocks often hinges on nutrition. Traditional diets can sometimes fall short, leading to less-than-ideal growth and carcass quality. This is where innovative feeding strategies come into play, turning readily available resources into opportunities for improved productivity.

One such resource is maize husk, a common agricultural byproduct. While often overlooked, maize husk can be a valuable component of sheep diets, especially when treated and supplemented correctly. Recent research from Bako, Western Ethiopia, sheds light on how to optimize maize husk-based diets to unlock superior growth and carcass characteristics in Horro sheep.

How Can Treated Maize Husk and Supplements Transform Sheep Farming?

Healthy Horro sheep grazing in a maize field, symbolizing sustainable sheep farming.

The study, conducted over 90 days, focused on Horro sheep, a breed known for its adaptability and economic importance in the region. Researchers explored the effects of treating maize husk with urea and supplementing it with varying levels of a concentrate mix composed of nougseed meal and wheat bran. This mix was chosen for its balanced nutritional profile, offering a boost to the often-lacking nutrients in maize husk alone.

The results were compelling, showing significant improvements in body weight gain and carcass characteristics in sheep that received supplemented diets. The urea treatment of maize husk also played a crucial role, enhancing its digestibility and making nutrients more accessible to the animals.

Increased Body Weight Gain: Supplemented sheep exhibited significantly higher daily body weight gain and final body weight compared to those fed solely urea-treated maize husk.
Improved Carcass Characteristics: Supplementation led to heavier hot carcass weights, better dressing percentages, and larger rib eye muscle areas, all indicators of improved meat yield and quality.
Enhanced Nutrient Intake: The addition of supplements boosted the overall digestible nutrient intake, ensuring that sheep received a balanced diet to support optimal growth.

Notably, the study highlighted the importance of finding the right balance in supplementation levels. While all supplemented groups showed improvements, the group receiving the highest level of concentrate mix (400g) demonstrated the most significant gains in both body weight and carcass characteristics. This suggests that Horro sheep can benefit from a more intensive feeding strategy, maximizing their potential for growth and meat production.

Transforming Sheep Farming Through Strategic Nutrition

The insights from this study offer a promising pathway for farmers looking to enhance their sheep farming practices. By strategically incorporating urea-treated maize husk and tailored supplements into their feeding regimens, farmers can unlock the full potential of their flocks, leading to improved productivity, higher quality meat, and ultimately, greater economic returns. This research not only provides practical guidance but also underscores the importance of continuous innovation in agriculture, turning overlooked resources into valuable assets for sustainable farming.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.5897/ijlp2016.0343, Alternate LINK

Title: Bodyweight Gain And Carcass Characteristics Of Horro Sheep Fed Urea Treated Maize Husk And Untreated Maize Husk Supplemented With Different Levels Of Concentrate Mix At Bako, Western Ethiopia

Subject: General Medicine

Journal: International Journal of Livestock Production

Publisher: Academic Journals

Authors: Defar Girma, Urgie Mengistu

Published: 2017-06-30

Everything You Need To Know

Why is sheep farming so important in developing countries like Ethiopia?

In developing countries such as Ethiopia, sheep farming is crucial because it serves as a vital source of income and food security for households. Sheep provide both food for consumption and generate revenue, making them essential for the livelihoods of many families. Optimizing their growth and carcass quality directly impacts the economic stability of these communities. However, achieving optimal growth often depends on enhanced nutritional strategies, particularly through effective feed management, such as using treated maize husk and tailored supplements.

What makes maize husk a potentially valuable feed for sheep, and how does urea treatment improve it?

Maize husk is an abundant agricultural byproduct that can serve as a valuable feed for sheep if properly treated. Urea treatment enhances its digestibility, making the nutrients within the maize husk more accessible to the animals. This process breaks down the complex carbohydrates in the husk, allowing sheep to derive more energy and nutrients from it. Supplementation with concentrate mixes like nougseed meal and wheat bran further balances the diet, addressing nutrient deficiencies present when feeding maize husk alone.

What specific benefits were observed in Horro sheep when their diets were supplemented with a concentrate mix alongside urea-treated maize husk?

When Horro sheep were fed a diet of urea-treated maize husk supplemented with a concentrate mix of nougseed meal and wheat bran, several key benefits were observed. These included significantly increased daily body weight gain, improved final body weight, heavier hot carcass weights, better dressing percentages, and larger rib eye muscle areas. These improvements indicate enhanced meat yield and quality, demonstrating that strategic supplementation can substantially improve the productivity and market value of the sheep.

What level of concentrate mix supplementation with urea-treated maize husk resulted in the most significant gains in Horro sheep?

The study revealed that the group of Horro sheep receiving the highest level of concentrate mix (400g) alongside urea-treated maize husk exhibited the most significant gains in both body weight and carcass characteristics. This suggests that a more intensive feeding strategy, utilizing higher levels of supplementation, can maximize the growth and meat production potential of Horro sheep. However, it is crucial to balance supplementation to avoid overfeeding and ensure optimal nutrient utilization.

How can farmers implement these findings to improve their sheep farming practices and what are the broader implications for sustainable agriculture?

Farmers can enhance their sheep farming practices by strategically incorporating urea-treated maize husk and tailored supplements like nougseed meal and wheat bran into their feeding regimens. This approach unlocks the full potential of their flocks, leading to improved productivity and higher quality meat. The broader implications for sustainable agriculture involve turning overlooked resources, such as maize husk, into valuable assets, reducing waste, and promoting efficient use of available feed resources. Continuous innovation in agriculture, supported by research, is essential for creating sustainable farming practices that improve livelihoods and ensure food security.