Performance and carcass characteristics of Yankasa ram fed with variable levels of biscuit waste and Leucaena leucocephala based diets

A study was conducted to find out the performance and carcass characteristics of sheep fed diet in which biscuits waste (BWM) and Leucaena leucocephala leaf hay (L/h) mixture were used to replace maize and wheat offal mixture at zero (control), 25, 50, 70 and 100% replacement levels. In a completely randomize design, the experimental diet where designated B0, B1, B2, B3, B4, respectively. The 20 growing Yankasa rams aged between 9 to 11 months with an initial average life weight of 12.17 ± 0.33 kg were randomly assign to the 5 dietary treatment with four rams per treatment. Data were collected to estimate dry matter intake (g/d /W0.7 kg), daily mean life weight gain (g/d), feed efficiency and carcass indices. Dietary replacement of maize and wheat offal mixture with biscuit waste meal and L. leucocelphala leaf hay mixture significantly (P< 0.05) influenced the entire variable measured. However, animal on diet B1 and B2 in which biscuits waste and L. leucocephala leaf mixture replaced 25 and 50% maize and wheat offal mixture, were better when compared to the control (B0) and other test diet in terms of performance and carcass characteristics. This was evident by higher DMI (77.18 and 76.84 g/d /W0.75 kg), ADWG (134.40 and 129.52 g/d), feed efficiency (0.199 and 0.195), live shrunk weight (21.50 and 20.10 kg), dressing percentage (85.81 and 84.33%), chilled carcass weight (18.33 and 16.83 kg), wholesale cuts leg (9.18 and 8.73%), rack (3.11 and 2.78%), BSF (4.53 and 3.83%), neck added (2.51 and 1.78%) and rib eye area (6.06 and 8.29) which were obtained from the animal on these two diets. Broadly, the result in the present study indicated that 25 and 75% replacement level of maize and wheat offal mixture with biscuits waste and L. leucocephala leaf hay mixture are ideal for ruminant animal production because it improve both the performance and carcass characteristics of rams.Key words: Performance, carcass, biscuit waste, Yankasa ram

Chemical composition and in vitro evaluation of the nutrient content of Panicum maximum-Moringa oleifera diets

The ruminants in the tropics are slow growing, arising from low quality feed. The use of indigenous legume trees and Guinea grass is a good strategy for an improved livestock performance. The study determined the chemical composition, anti-nutritional factors and in vitro gas production characteristics of Panicum maximum-Moringa oleifera mixed diets. Five diets were formulated such that Panicum maximum was substituted with Moringa oleifera at ratio 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% in diets A, B, C, D and E respectively and they were incubated for 48 hr using in vitro gas production technique. The proximate composition, fibre franction, anti-nutrient, mineral contents and in vitro characteristics of the P.maximun- M.oleifera mixed diets were determined and all data collected were subjected to one way analysis of variance and where there were significant (P<0.05) differences, means were compared using Duncan multiple range F-test. The results revealed that the observed values were significantly (p<0.05) influenced by the inclusion of Moringa oleifera in the diets with the exception of dry matter and gross energy. Dry matter values (87.00-89.72g/100g) decreased with the increased inclusion of Moringa oleifera in the diets, while protein content (9.26-26.68g/100g) increased with the increased inclusion of Moringa oleifera in the diets. It implied that the diets could be good sources of protein and energy that would meet the requirement of small ruminants for growth and production. Neutral detergent fibre and Acid detergent lignin values decreased with the increased inclusion of Moringa oleifera in the diets. However, the values of acid detergent fibre, hemicelluloses and cellulose ranged from 20.13 to 43.44g/100g, 6.88 to 14.45g/100g and 14.65 – 31.48g/100g respectively. Antinutrient values were significantly (p<0.05) influenced by the treatment. Tannin concentrations in these diets were below the 6.00g/100g toxic level for small ruminants. The concentrations (g/100g) of Ca (0.12 – 2.74), P (0.05 – 0.12), K (0.17 – 2.78), Na (0.07 – 0.27), Fe (0.07 – 0.17) and Zn (0.04 – 0.16 ) varied significantly (p<0.05), the observed values were higher in diet E that contained 100% Moringa oleifera leaves than other diets. The high contents of these minerals in Moringa oleifera indicated that the requirements of sheep and goats for these minerals could be met if the plant is fed with grass ad libitum. There were significant (p<0.05) differences among the treatment means of metabolizable energy (ME 3.44 – 5,58 MJ/kg DM), organic matter digestibility (OMD 30.96 – 43.65 g/100g), short chain fatty acids (SCFA 0.05 – 0.26 μmol) and methane (2.00 – 6.00 ml). Total gas and methane production increased with incubation period and the highest values of OMD was observed in the 48th hour of incubation. It can be concluded that with the enhanced values of crude protein, gross energy, metabolizable energy, short chain fatty acids and low methane production, the Panicum maximum-Moringa oleifera diets have potential that would meet the nutrient requirements of small ruminants in the tropical regions particularly during the dry season.Keywords: Gas production, in vitro, nutrients, Moringa oleifera, Panicum maximu

Response of West African dwarf sheep to differently processed corncob meal based diets

A feeding trial was conducted to assess the response of West African Dwarf sheep to differently processed corncob meal based-diets. Sun-dried corncobs were collected at Teaching and Research farm of Federal University of Technology, Akure, treated with water, lye, urea, poultry litter and fermented for twenty-one (21) days. Five experimental diets were formulated and contained five differently treated corncob meals as follow: A (untreated corncob), B (water-treated corncob), C (lye-treated corncob), D (urea-treated corncob) and E (poultry litter-treated corncob). These processed corncob meals were incorporated as basal ingredients at 45% level. Thirty (30) WAD sheep (3 males and 3 females per treatment) were fed the five diets in a completely randomized design and the experiment lasted for sixty three (63) days. Dry matter intake, digestibility, nitrogen retention, weight gain and feed/gain ratio were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by the inclusion of differently processed corncob meal in the diets. The highest crude protein (CP) intake, CP digestibility, nitrogen retention and feed/gain ratio values were recorded for sheep fed ensiled poultry litter-treated corncobs (diet D) and significantly (P<0.05) differed from values recorded for sheep fed other diets. The haematological indices were not significantly (P>0.05) influenced by the treatment except haemoglobin concentration. The results revealed that the inclusion of water, lye, urea, and poultry litter treated corncob meal in the sheep diets could satisfy the dietary protein and energy requirements of the sheep.Key words: Corncobs, ensiled, lye, performance, urea, poultry litter, shee

Performance Characteristics And Muscle Fat Contents Of Broiler Chicken Finishers Fed Diets Containing Palm Oil Sludge In Partial Replacement For Maize

This study was carried out to asses the effect of substituting maize at 10, 20, 30 and 40% of energy supplied by maize in a control diet (500 g/kg maize based) with energy from palm oil sludge (POS) on performance, muscle fat content and cost of production of 4-week old broiler chickens. A total of 200 starter shaver starbo broilers were randomly allotted to the 5 diets at 10 birds per replicate and 4 replicates per treatment. the diets were iso-nitrogenous and iso-caloric. the feeding trial lasted 4 weeks during which weekly feed consumption and group live weights were measured. sixteen birds per treatment were sacrificed and dissected to assess the belly fat and total lipid contents of selected muscle. Final live weight, weight gain and feed conversion ratio of birds did not differ significantly (P0.05). feed intake was significantly influenced (

Performance Characteristics And Muscle Fat Contents Of Broiler Chicken Finishers Fed Diets Containing Palm Oil Sludge In Partial Replacement For Maize

This study was carried out to asses the effect of substituting maize at 10, 20, 30 and 40% of energy supplied by maize in a control diet (500 g/kg maize based) with energy from palm oil sludge (POS) on performance, muscle fat content and cost of production of 4-week old broiler chickens. A total of 200 starter Shaver Starbo broilers were randomly allotted to the 5 diets at 10 birds per replicate and 4 replicates per treatment. The diets were iso-nitrogenous and iso-caloric. The feeding trial lasted 4 weeks during which weekly feed consumption and group live weights were measured. Sixteen birds per treatment were sacrificed and dissected to assess the belly fat and total lipid contents of selected muscle.Final live weight, weight gain and feed conversion ratio of birds did not differ significantly (P>0.05). Feed intake was significantly influenced (

Macro elements utilization in W.A.D. does fed combined levels of Andropogon gayanus (kunth) and Gliricidia sepium (jacq) with cassava offal based concentrate

Twenty West African Dwarf Does of average weight of 5±0.58 kg aged between 3 and 6 months were used to determine the combination effect of Andropogon gayanus and Gliricidia sepium with cassava offal based diets on minerals balance The five (5) treatments were I (Gs0); 100% Ag + 0% Gs; II (Gs25) 75% Ag +25%Gs; III (Gs50); 50%Ag +50% Gs; IV (Gs 75); 25% Ag+ 75% Gs; V (Gs100);0% Ag + Gs100. Apparent (gm) lowest and highest Ca absorption and retention were observed in Gs0 (94.81) and Gs 25 (115.04) as well as Gs0 (94.73) and Gs25 (114.81) indicating a  quadratic response to Gs levels whereas linear reduction with increasing levels were absorbed in apparent P absorption (Gs100 (19.18) to Gs 0(33.38) and retention (Gs 100(18.85) to Gs 0 (33.36) and Mg was Gs 100 (18.13) to Gs 0 (38.68) and GS 100(17.42 ) to Gs100 (38.57) respectively. Highest and Lowest (P<0.05) apparent (gm) Na absorption and retention were absorbed in Gs0 (74.79) and GS 100 (38.81) as well as Gs0 (74.74) and 100 (33.43).. Slight quadratic response was exhibited in K absorption and retention (Gs0 (14.81) to Gs100 (123.36) and Gs0 (41.48) to 100 (122.08) and lastly more quadratic response to levels was exhibited in Sulphur (gm) absorption (Gs25(18.37) to Gs0 (36.05) and Gs25 (93.20) to Gs0 (95.31). Although no negative balance was recorded, characteristics of accelerated and efficient usage of nutrients were not linearly related tolevels increments.Key Words: Grass-legume mixture, cassava offal, W.A.D.-Does, mineral- balanc

Tephrosia bracteolate (Gull et Perr) – Panicum maximum (jacq) combinations utilization by West African Dwarf Goats

Sixteen (16) west African Dwarf Goats (8 bucks and 8 does) were balanced for age, sex and weight (average of 5.79±0.60kg), to test for performance characteristics, cell wall digestibility and Nitrogen Retention, were fed Tephrosia bracteolata based diets were allotted randomly to the following dietary treatments (T. bracteolate, P. maximum, Concentrate) viz: I (20%, 60%, 20%) as control, II (40%, 40%, 20%), III (60%, 20%, 20%) and IV (80%, 0%, 20%) for one hundred and twelve days; 14 day pre-growthadaptation, 84 day-growth and 14 day digestibility (7 day adaptation and 7 day monitoring). Highest (P<0.05) DM was observed in IV  (338.88±31.72g/d) and lowest (P<0.05) in I (255.68±35.48g/d).  Treatment IV (54.29±3.66g/d) also had highest (P<0.05) and daily weight gain and lowest (P<0.05) occurred in I (40.59±4.93g/d). Concerning NDF, ADF and NDL digestibility (%), highest (P<0.05) occurred in IV (81.53±25.37, 75.49±9.23 and 15.84±2.36) and lowest (P<0.05) recorded in I (62.15±25.48, 55.88±8.20 and 8.67±1.50). Similarly trend of highest (P<0.05) in IV (2.67±0.62g/d) and lowest (P<0.05) in I (0.97±0.60g/day) repeated itself with respect to nitrogen balance. This study confirms that with Concentrate waste Tephrosia bracteolata can be sole fed to goats with A.I.B. (Agro industrial byproducts) for optimal performance with or without grass supplement despite its inherent anti nutrient factors.Keywords: Cell wall digestibility, Performance Characteristics, Nitrogen Retention, Tephrosia bracteolata, West African dwarf goat