Comparative Digestibility and Nitrogen Balance of Maize Bran, Wheat Offal and Rice Bran in West African Dwarf Goats

Nine bucks West African Dwarf goats (WADg) of 8-10 months with average initial weight of 8.5±0.05 were allotted to individual metabolic cages in a CRD in a 21-days experiment to compare the digestibility and nitrogen balance of maize bran (MB), rice bran(RB) and wheat offal (WO) in WADg. Results shows that DM value ranged between 83.20% MB and 90.30% in RB while WO had the highest 11.43% of CP, ADF value ranged between 58.00% in WO to 63.00% in MB. CP intake was significantly (p<0.05) higher in goat placed on WO than other animals.. The value of CF, ADF, NDF and Ash intake was significantly similar (p>0.05) in goat fed WO and RB. The DM digestibility were significantly (p<0.05) higher (56.00%) in goats fed WO followed by RB and MB with 42.08% and 40.57% respectively. The apparent digestibility of CP were similar (p>0.05) in all the animals, CF digestibility were lower (10.80%) in animals fed WO. Acid detergent fibre (ADF) and NDF digestibility were significantly (p<0.05) higher (88.52%) and 58.33% in animal fed with RB. Nitrogen intake varied significantly (p<0.05) across the treatments with 1.96g/day in goat fed MB followed by 2.66g/day MB and 3.84g/day in animal fed WO. Animals fed WO and RB had highest significantly (p<0.05) 2.16g/day and 2.20g/day of N-balance. The positive N-balance observed in all goats suggested that N absorbed was well tolerated and utilized by the animals, so the treatments gives a better chance for dry season feed or when animals are tethered without any adverse effects

Pre-sowing treatment, agronomic performance and nutritive potential of Tephrosia bracteolate (Guill. et Perr.) at four different stages of growth

Presowing treatments, agronomic performance and nutrients profile of Tephrosia bracteolata at different stages of growth were assessed. Six presowing treatments were used (T1-Untreated, Control); T2- Ash solution; T3-Sand treatment; T4- Soaking in boiled water for 15 min; T5- 24 hrs soaking in cool water; T6- Partial burning. Plant height (PLH), leaf length (LFL), and leaf breath (LFB) were measured with tape rule; leaf number (LFN) and   branches number (BRN) were counted at four different stages of growth 8, 12, 16, 20 weeks after planting (WAP). Soil analysis was done before and after the trial. T. bracteolata plants were sampled for proximate composition and mineral content at different stages of growth. The results indicated that there was a slight increase in organic   matter, N, Ca, Na, K and Zn in the soil after the trial. Sand-treated seeds had the highest percentage germination (85%) followed by seeds soaked in boiled water for 15 minutes (62%). There was a significant (P < 0.05) increased in PLH, LFN and BRN at 20 WAP. The highest (P <0.05) CP was noticed at early stages 8 and 12 WAP compared to other stages of growth. Ether extract, NDF and ADF were similar (P > 0.05) at 12, 16 and 20 WAP, while ash content were higher (P < 0.05) at 8 and 12 WAP. Conclusively, T. bracteolata has the ability to improve the fertility of the soil; its nutrients profile at different stages of growth were adequate in meeting the maintenance and reproduction requirements of animal especially ruminant animals without any fortification in the diets at any different stages of growth.Key words: Pre-sowing treatments, Agronomic parameters, Tephrosia brateolata, Nutrients, Stages of growth and Soil fertility

Web-based research publications on Sub-Saharan Africa’s prized meat rodent: A global scorecard

The paper assessed articles on grasscutter in journals present online. Only articles uploaded by March 2013 were considered. Up to 1969, no article on grasscutter was published online except in the decade 1930-1939. Year 2010-March, 2013 recorded the highest percent mean monthly publications (69.09%) while 1930-1939 and 1970-1979 had the least (0.45%). There was a 1300% increase in the volume of articles between 1970 and 2013. Country-wise, Nigeria and Ghana topped with 49.29% and 27.14%, respectively while Italy, Sweden and Japan recorded the least value (0.71%). Africa produced most of the articles (92.15%) while Asia had the least (0.71%) but none from Australia and South America. Anatomy and Physiology (22.86%) was the most researched area while Economics and Marketing were the least (2.14%). Core areas of veterinary medicine (Anatomy and Physiology, Health and Reproductive Physiology) dominated research interest. Livestock Research for Rural Development published most of the articles (8.57%) while 2.14% was the least output by any journal. Most of the journals published only one article (45.71%). GSI Wogar of Nigeria was the most prolific authority on grasscutter (6.43%) while the least effort by any author was 1.43%. The study confirms Africa’s deep interest in the grasscutter which is not shared by other parts of the world. We recommend increased publication of research on cane rats in web-based journals to quickly spread the food value of this prized meat rodent to other parts of the world and so attract research interest and funding.Keywords: Grasscutter, research articles, online, globa

Digestibility and nitrogen balance of sole malted sorghum sprout, maize stover and rice straw in West African Dwarf goat

A study on digestibility and nitrogen balance of sole Malted Sorghum Sprout (MSS), Maize Stover (MST) and Rice Straw (RSW) in West African Dwarf goat was x-rayed, nine male West African Dwarf (WAD) goats with body weight of 9-11kg allotted to individual metabolic cage in complete randomized design for 21-days experiment. Results shows that DM% ranged between 78.00 – 92.50%, CP content of 4.75% in MST, RSW (8.57%) while 14.25% CP was   recorded for MSS. Crude fibre was higher (36.44%) in MST. Apparent digestibility of CP was low (6.04%) in goat fed sole MSS followed by MST (17.05%) and RSW 21.24%, EE digestibility was significantly (P<0.05) higher in goat fed MSS, while ADF digestibility were similar (P>0.05) in animals placed on sole RSW and MST, ash digestibility was  similar (P>0.05) in goat fed MSS and MST. Voluntary feed intake was significantly (P<0.05), higher (600g/day) in the goats offered sole MSS but water intake in all the goats were not significantly (P>0.05) different. Nitrogen   intake, faecal nitrogen, absorbed nitrogen, urinary nitrogen and total nitrogen retention were significantly (P<0.05) higher in goat fed sole MSS, while goats on MST had the least significant (P<0.05) N-intake (0.76g/day), faecal-N (0.50g/day), absorbed N (0.26%/day) and total N-retention (0.63g/day). Goats fed RSW had higher significant  (P<0.05) N-balance (0.29g/day) compared to other goats on MSS and MST which were similar (P>0.05) in  N-balance. Conclusively, none of the experimental feedstuffs can be fed as sole diet to goats since the nutrients and digestibility are lower than recommended values. It can be recommended from these results that these  feedstuffs should be supplemented with other feedstuffs to give a balanced diet before being fed to West African Dwarf goats to improve their performance.Key words: Nutrients, Digestibility, Nitrogen balance, Crop residue and Goat

Body weight and carcass characteristics of broilers fed different mixtures of ginger (Zingiber officinale) and garlic (Allium sativum) in diets

Body weight and carcass characteristics of broilers was investigated in a feeding experiment using 135 broilers of Abor acre strain in a completely randomised design that lasted for eight weeks at the Teaching and Research farm, Department of Agricultural education, Federal College of Education (Technical) Akoka Lagos Nigeria. The birds were randomly allotted to three dietary treatments of 45 chicks per treatment. Each treatment was replicated three times (15 chicks per replicate). Three isocaloric (2713.41 and 2918.76 Kcal/kg starter and finisher diets respectively) and isonitrogenous (Starter 24%CP and Finisher 20.37%) diets were formulated. The control diet was without mixture of ginger and garlic. The two other diets were T1:7.5g Ginger plus 7.5g Garlic mixture/25kg diet and T2: 15g Ginger plus 15g Garlic mixture/25kg diet. The experimental diets (starter and finisher diets) were offered to the respective bids with water ad libitum. The body weight gain (Kg) of birds fed control, T1 and T2:1.85, 1.90 and 1.74 respectively were not significantly different (p > 0.05).The feed intake (kg); 4.77, 4.22 and 4.02; and feed conversion ratio: 2.70; 2.22 and 2.31 for birds on control, T1 and T2 respectively were not different (p > 0.05) too. Birds on diet T2 recorded the highest liveability percentage (96%). Mixtures of ginger and garlic in ratio 1.1 up to 7.5g each in 25kg diets slightly increased final body weight gain and liveability; improved feed conversion ratio (FCR), reduced feed intake and dressed carcass percentage significantly (p<0.05) reduced weight of internal organs like liver, heart, kidney and gizzard. The increased final body weight gain and liveability as well as improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) of birds could possibly be due to improvement in feed digestion, additive advantage of nutrients and the anti-microbial property of the mixtures of ginger and garlic in the diets. While the reduced feed intake and dressed carcass percentage may be responsible for by the high fiber content, and some anti-nutritional factors in the ginger and garlic mixtures.Keywords: body weight, carcass characteristics, broiler chicken, Allium sativum, Zingiber officinal