Advances in Biological Research 10 (3): 191-199, 2016 ISSN 1992-0067 © IDOSI Publications, 2016 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.abr.2016.10.3.102187 Corresponding Author: Dereje Andualem, Dilla University, Department of Animal and Range Sciences, P.O. Box: 419, Dilla Ethiopia. Tel: +251911919777. 191 Milk Yield and Composition of Grazing Arsi-Bale Does Supplemented with Dried Stinging Nettle (Urtica simensis) Leaf Meal and Growth Rate of Their Suckling Kids Dereje Andualem, Tegene Negesse and Adugna Tolera 1,2 1 1 Hawassa University, School of Animal and Range Sciences, Hawassa, Ethiopia 1 Dilla University, Department of Animal and Range Sciences, P.O. Box: 419, Dilla Ethiopia 2 Abstract: The study was conducted to determine the effect replacing dried stinging nettle leaf meal (SNLM) for concentrate mix on milk yield and composition of lactating does and growth performance of their kids. A control and three dietary treatments using a concentrate mixture (maize, linseed cake and wheat bran) and SNLM, in the ratio of 1:0 (control), 2:1(SN33), 1:2(SN66) and 0:1(SN100) were fed to local Arsi-Bale does. Animals were managed semi-intensively and were allowed to graze on natural pasture for 6h/day; water was provided twice a day and mineral lick ad libitum. The control group received 300g of concentrate mixture /day/doe. In SN33, SN66 and SN100, 100g, 200g and 300g (whole) of the concentrate supplement was replaced by SNLM respectively. Daily milk yield (MY), milk fat, protein, TS, SNF and growth rate of kids’ were measured every two weeks during 91days of experiment. Compared to control, MY increased (P < 0.05) by 33% at SN66 (1.08kg). However, MY dropped by 30% when concentrate feed was totally replaced by the SNLM, due to significantly low supplement dry matter intake in this group. The least MY (0.72kg/day) was for control. MY showed a gradual increase at early, reach peak at mid and declined at late lactation period. Highest MY (1.34kg/day) was recorded at mid stage (7-9 weeks) of lactation in SN66. On the other hand, no marked differences were observed in milk fat, TS and SNF contents among experimental diets. But highest (4.27%) milk protein was recorded (P<0.05) in SN33 indicating that there was no clear relationship between rate of substitution of concentrate with SNLM and milk composition. Milk fat, milk protein and TS were lower at early and late lactations but were higher at the mid lactation. Highest weaning weight and growth rate (P<0.05) were recorded for suckling kids in which their mothers grouped in SN66 and the least were for control. There was a positive correlation (r = 0.82) between weaning weight of kids and average MY of their respective mothers. These results indicated that, SNLM can partly replace concentrate mixture in dairy goat ration without undesirable effect on lactation performance. Key words: Stinging Nettle Leaf Milk Yield Milk Composition Growth Rate INTRODUCTION superiority was not replicated under village conditions. In the smallholder farming system of Ethiopia, goats improved management might be a better strategy for are mainly kept for generating cash income and home increased productivity in goats [2]. consumption. Milk production from goats is important in By improving feeding regime, mainly through some mixed crop–livestock and pastoral areas to improve supplementation of concentrate mixture, productivity of kids’ growth, which increases income from sale of animals. indigenous goats could be improved [1, 3]. However Development interventions so far were mainly focused on concentrate feeds of good quality are sold by a few crossbreeding to improve milk production and growth feed mills, are expensive and thus are rarely used by rates [1]. Despite better performance of crossbreds over small-scale farmers. Moreover in developing countries, the indigenous breeds under on-station conditions, such such as Ethiopia, grain is in short supply and expensive Hence, selection within local breeds combined with