\u3ci\u3eTheobroma cacao\u3c/i\u3e Pod Silage Diets; Effect on Mineral and Anti-Nutrients Utilization by Goats

A 63-day study was conducted to evaluate the mineral and anti-nutrients utilization and weight gain by west African dwarf goats fed Theobroma cacao pod silage diets. Cocoa pod husk used was collected, crushed to 2 cm particle size, divided into 4 equal portions, and ensiled differently with synthetic and non-synthetic fertilizer for 28 days under anaerobic conditions to increase the nutrients. Thereafter the ensiled products were dried and incorporated with other convectional feed ingredients at fixed amount to make four diets to feed twenty-four goats (six goats per treatment). Nutrient, mineral and anti-nutrient composition were assayed; sex effect on intake (nutrient, mineral and anti-nutrient), utilization, weight gain and feed conversion ratio were evaluated. From the results, the non-protein nitrogen sources proved to improve the nutritional values of the diets, and rich enough to support the growth of goats. The goat-does were observed to consume more of their feeds than the bucks. Anti-nutrients were tolerable and did not hinder utilization/depress weight gain. Goats fed diet D (5% urea ensiled CPH) had the highest weight gain and lowest feed conversion ratio. Hence, it could be recommended to ruminant farmers for adoption, to improve livelihoods in sub-Sahara Africa

Influence of Cutting Height on Seasonal Composition of \u3cem\u3eMoringa oleifera\u3c/em\u3e in the Rainforest Zone of Nigeria

Moringa oleifera, a native of sub-Himalayan regions of northwestern India, is now indigenous to many countries in Africa. Matured leaves and young branches of Moringa are potentially useful livestock fodder, for ruminants (Akinbamijo et al. 2004) and non-ruminants (Ly et al. 2001). However, in Nigeria it has been grossly underexploited as it is restricted to the arid northern zone where it is used mainly as live fence and as vegetable salad. The study was initiated because not enough information on the nutritive value of Moringa foliage and its change with season, harvesting or grazing had been accumulated in Nigeria especially in the rainforest zone

Dry Matter, Protein and Fibre Digestibility by West African Dwarf Sheep Fed Varying Levels of \u3cem\u3eVernonia amygdalina\u3c/em\u3e Meal in Cassava Starch Residue-Based Diets

It is imperative to find alternative source(s) of feed for livestock in lieu of the limited availability of conventional concentrates and the competition for this resource by man. One plant with great potential for the livestock is bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina). It is wide spread with about 200 species, is edible, drought tolerant, nutritious and has been found to have medicinal qualities (John 1994). V. amygdalina has an astringent taste which affects its intake. Bitter leaf meal contains 20-34% crude protein (CP) and can be used as protein supplement (Aregheore et al. 1998). With the recent introduction of trees and shrubs into cropping and grazing systems to provide high protein fodder to supplement post harvest crop residues, it is conceivable that V. amygdalina could play a valuable role in ruminant feeding system. This study was conducted to assess the dry matter, protein and fibre digestibility by WAD sheep fed diets containing various levels of Vernonia amygdalina leaf meal

Response of West African dwarf does to diets containing ammoniated cocoa pod husk meal

Dried composite CPH were milled, soaked in 5% urea solution for 7 days, and ensiled for 28 days under anaerobic condition to upgrade its nutritive contents to make urea-treated ensiled cocoa pod husk meal (UTCPHM). The UTCPHM were used to replace cassava peels at 0, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30% in diets of West African Dwarf (WAD) goat-does in a 90-day feeding trial, using 24 WAD does of four replicate per treatment in a completely randomized design. Thereafter, the nutrient compositions of UTCPHM were assessed while the nutrient and fibre fraction digestibility were evaluated. Crude protein (CP) improved by 71.84%, while Crude fibre (CF), Acid Detergent Lignin, Neutral Detergent Fibre and Theobromine of UTCPHM reduced by 29.40%, 16.75%, 17.88%, 20.04% and 47.30% respectively over the raw CPHM. The CP of the diets ranged (10.52% - 12.84%), CF (17.28% - 17.37%) from 0% UTCPHM diet to 30% UTCPHM diet; and theobromine concentration (1.47%) was highest in 30% UTCPHM diet. However, DMI, CPI, nitrogen balance and daily weight gain increased progressively as the inclusion of UTCPHM increased in the diets. Thus, UTCPHM could be incorporated in goat diets up to 30%, as it supported their growth.Key words: Ensiled cocoa pod husk, Urea treatment, Fibre fractions, Theobromine, Doe

Nutrients Digestibility, Nitrogen Balance and Blood Profile of West African Dwarf (Wad) Goats Fed Cassava Peels with Urea-molasses Multi-nutrient Block (UMMB) Supplements

The nutrients digestibility, nitrogen utilization and blood profile of West African Dwarf (WAD) goat fed cassava peels with urea-molasses multi-nutrients block (UMMB) supplements was investigated in a twelve weeks experiment. Twenty WAD goats that weighed 8.33±0.35 kg on average were assigned to each of the five experimental diets that contained cassava peels without UMMB supplement (treatment 1) and with UMMB containing 0% urea (treatment 2), 5% urea (treatment 3), 10% urea (treatment 4) and 15% urea (treatment 5), in a completely randomized design (CRD). Results of the study revealed that nutrients digestibility were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by UMMB supplementation. Goats fed diet T4 also had the highest values of digestibility coefficients of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), crude fibre (CF) and nitrogen free extract (83.05%, 71.97%, 67.64% and 71.34%)  respectively. Nitrogen retention was significantly (P<0.05) influenced by dietary treatments, the values ranged from 0.75 g/day (diet T1) to 6.07 g/day (diet T5). Haematological indices and serum biochemistry were within normal range for WAD goats. Conclusively it can be said that urea-molasses multi-nutrient blocks is offers a reliable source of protein for improved nutrients digestibility and nitrogen utilization by WAD goats fed cassava peels without detrimental effects on the wellbeing of the goats

Dietary effect of Pleurotus pulmonaris treated cocoa bean shell meal on fibre fractions utilisation by the West African Dwarf goats

A 63-day study was conducted to evaluate the dietary effect of Pleurotus pulmonaris treated cocoa bean shell meal diets on fibre fraction utilization of West African Dwarf (WAD) goats (aged 9 -12 months) with an average live weight of 6.31±0.3 kg. Six diets were formulated such that wheat offal was replaced with ensiled Pleurotus pulmonaris treated cocoa bean shell meal at ratio 0 (A), 20% (B), 40% (C), 60% (D), 80% (E), 100% (F) in complete diets. The experimental diets were fed to 18 WAD goats in three replicates per treatment using completely randomized design. The determined parameters included; chemical composition of the diets, dry matter and fibre fractions intake, weight gains and feed to gain ratio. The dry matter of raw cocoa bean shells was 88.53% and dry matter of Pleurotus pulmonaris treated cocoa bean shells was 87.38%. The crude protein contents of raw bean shells and Pleurotus pulmonaris treated cocoa bean shells were 11.98 and 26.63% respectively. The dry matter of the diets ranged from 86.83 to 90.70%, diet B had the highest value while crude protein ranged between 19.73 (diet A) and 28.88% (diet F) and increased with increased inclusion of Pleurotus pulmonaris treated cocoa bean shell meal in the diets. The nutrients intake was significantly (P<0.05) influenced by the treatment except dry matter and cellulose. The crude fibre and fibre fractions were efficiently digested. Nitrogen balance, apparent digestibility and weight gain were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by the treatment. The goats fed diet A converted their feed to flesh better than other goats. However, goats fed diet F performed best compared to other goats fed diets B, C, D and E that contained Pleurotus pulmonaris treated cocoa bean shell meal. It can be concluded that Pleurotus pulmonaris treated cocoa bean shell meal incorporated in goat's diet could supply energy and protein tosustain the growth without adverse effect

SHORT COMMUNICATION Proximate, mineral composition and anti-nutrient contents present in Parkia biglobosa leaves

The leaves of Parkia biglobosa was evaluated for the proximate, mineral and anti-nutrition composition. Atomic absorption spectrometry was used in determination of the leaves for P, K, Mg, Ca, Fe and Zn. Anti-nutritional factors (ANFs) including phytate, oxalate and trypsin inhibitor were also determined using appropriate technique. The results of proximate analysis indicate that the leaves had high crude protein (CP) (13.15%), moisture (57.38%), dry matter (DM) (42.62%), ether extract (EE) (1.90%), crude fibre (CF) (17.97%), and ash (8.20%). Mineral analysis indicate the Parkia biglobosa leaves contained some essential mineral such as K (0.82%), Ca (0.34%), P (0.35%), Mg (0.35%), Fe (161.30mg/kg) and Zn (60.75mg/kg). The leaves of Parkia biglobosa have low concentration of ant- nutritive factor. Phytate (0.67%), Oxalate (0.40%) and trypsin inhibitor (4.25mg/g). The results showed that the Parkia biglobosa leaves is of high nutritional quality due to high crude protein and mineral contents with low presence of anti-nutritional factors, and may therefore form good feed resources for modern intensive ruminant animal production.Keyword: Parkia biglobosa, Anti-nutritional factors, Proximate and Minera