Dry matter degradation characteristics of rice stover with different proportions of Ficus capensis or Alchornea cordifolia in rumen fistulated sheep, goats or cattle

Rumen dry matter degradation characteristics (soluble fraction, degradable fraction, rate of degradation and effective degradability) of leaves of two browse species (Alchornea cordifolia, Ficus capensis) and rice stover and their varying proportions (10, 20 or 30% of each browse: crop residue mixture) were evaluated in rumen fistulated West African Dwarf sheep and goats and Bunaji cattle. The forages differed (P<0.05) in soluble fraction (a) rate of degradation (c) and effective degradability (ED) but did not differ in the degradable fraction (b). Rice stover bad the highest rate of degradation and F.capensis the least. Effective degradability (ED) was highest in cattle followed by sheep and goats with a high degree of correlation among them. The inclusion of the different proportions of browse in the mixtures show some significance in a, b and ED (P<0.05). Mixture had a depressive effect on the soluble fraction of the feeds in rice stover: A.cordifolia mixtures. Degradable fraction differed mainly in F.capensis mixtures. The rate of degradation was affected mainly in sheep and cattle among the feeds in rice stover: F.capensis mixtures. The different mixtures influenced effective degradability. As with the sole feeds, ED was highest in cattle, followed by sheep and goats.Keywords: Degradation, browse, crop residue, mixture effect

A survey of dairy production practices in the derived Savannah of Oyo State South Western Nigeria

The study was conducted to find out dairy production practices among Agro-pastoral Fulani women in the derived Savannah of Oyo State, Southwestern Nigeria. Data were collected, using structured questionnaire from 120 Fulani women in three Local Government areas namely: Oyo West, Atiba and Ogbomosho North respectively. The study revealed that the main dairying activities are milking of cattle, processing and marketing of dairy products. The most preferred dairy products are wara (local cheese), ghee and butter. Marketing was done exclusively by self or in combination with intermediaries ("middlemen"). Main reasons for engagement in dairying activities are: Income generation, cultural and husband's wish. Constraints mostly encountered are bad roads, inadequate transport facilities and inadequate supply of raw milk from the cattle in dry season. Sources of agricultural information include; friends/neighbours, radio broadcasts, and International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) Programme, Ibadan.Keywords: Fulani women, milk processing, Wara, Ghee, Butter

Effects of enzyme Additive on Nutrient intake, Digestibility and Rumen metabolites of yearling Cattle fed Grass-hay based diet

Nutrient intake, digestibility and rumen metabolites were determined in sixteen yearling cattle fed Panicum maximum hay supplemented with concentrate diet in which an exogenous fibrolytic enzyme, ROXAZYME G2® (which consist of Cellulase, hemicellulase and beta glucanase) was included at 0, 50, 100 and 150mg/kg. Enzyme inclusion significantly increased the nutrients intake as the lowest value for all the parameters measured was obtained at 0mg/kg enzyme inclusion level. There were no significant differences among other levels of inclusion for total dry matter intake, Crude protein intake and Acid Detergent Fibre intake. Dry matter, crude protein, neutral Detergent Fibre and Acid Detergent Lignin digestibility were highest at 150mg/kg enzyme inclusion level and lowest at 0mg/kg enzyme inclusion. Enzyme inclusion reduces the pH as the experiment progressed. It ranged from 7.1-7.2 at the start to 6.50-6.90 at the end of the experiment. Ammonia- increases as the experiment progressed and the highest value 13.50mg/100ml was obtained at 150mg/kg inclusion. The total volatile fatty acids and total viable bacteria count also follow the same trend. This study revealed that the exogenous fibrolytic enzyme used improves the nutrient intake, digestibility and rumen metabolites of yearling cattle at 150mg/kg enzyme inclusion level.Keywords: Exogenous fibrolytic enzyme; cattle; nutrient intake; digestibility; rumen metabolite

Forage Yield, Nutrient Composition and Nutritive Quality of Silage Produced from Maize-Lablab Mixture

Trials were conducted at the Teaching and Research farm, UNAAB in 2008 and 2009 to evaluate the effect of undersowing Lablab (Lablab purpureus cv. Rongai)in maize on grain yield, and to evaluate the nutritive quality of the silage in the dry season using calves.A 2ha piece of land was used for the experiment. In both years, maize was undersown with Lablab two weeks after planting (WAP)the maize. At harvest (10WAP), fresh weights and number of cobs, shelling percentage and weight of 1000grains of maize were determined. Silages of sole maize and maize-lablab in ratio 70:30 were made at harvest in plastic bags. After 4months of conservation, twelve cross-bred (White Fulani x N’dama) calves weighing 71-72kg were randomly allocated to three dietary treatments: grazing + sole maize silage, grazing + maize-lablab silage and Unsupplemented grazing as control for 84days. A seven day trial was also conducted to find out the digestibility and utilization of the maize – lablab and sole maize silage fed to cross-bred calves as supplement in the dry season.Undersowing increased grain yield in the subsequent year. Nitrogen retention was higher (P<0.05) in Maize-lablab and lower in natural pasture. Calves supplemented with maize-lablab silage (70:30) had the highest (P < 0.05) metabolic weight gain (50.03g/kgW0.75) while calves without supplementation had the lowest gain (42.76g/kgW0.75). It was concluded that maize- Lablab silage (70:30) could be used as supplements to enhance the growth and survival of calves during the dry season.Keywords: undersowing, maize-lablab, silage, calves, supplementatio

Nutrient and anti-nutritional constituents of Penisetum purpureum and four indigenous tree legume of South-Western Nigeria: A potential ruminant feed

A study was carried out to investigate the nutrient composition as well as anti-nutritional constituents of some tree plants (Ficus sur, Bridelia macarrantii, Gmelina arborea and Albizia saman) and forage grass (Penisetum purpureum) in south- western Nigeria. Results indicated significant (P<0.05) variability in values of percentage crude protein (9.71 - 23.67%) where Penisetum purpureum recorded the least value and highest value observed in Ficus sur. Dry matter (DM), Crude fiber (CF), Organic matter (OM) and Ash contents varied significantly (p<0.05) from (23.52-46.23%, 8.45 - 30.22%, 64.01 - 96.95% and 2.66 – 8.44%) respectively. Albizia saman recorded significantly (p<0.05) higher ADF value (35.39%) with intermediate value (4.14%) of NDF. Penisetum purpureum had most ADL value (17.19%) while the least value was recorded in Gmelina arborea. Hemicellulose value ranged between (4.45 - 22.23%) with least value recorded by Ficus sur and highest by Penisetum purpureum plants. The concentrations of anti-nutritional factor was generally low, tannin content significantly (p<0.05) ranged from (0.75 - 3.56%) in Ficus sur and Albizia saman respectively. Penisetum purpureum had the least phytate (0.94 %) while Bridelia macarrantii recorded the most phytate value (2.65%). Saponin, Alkaloid and Oxalate level ranged from (0.10 - 1.51%, 0.36 - 1.58% and 0.34- 1.41%) respectively. The results show that the investigated plants seem to have good nutrient composition as well as low level of anti-nutritional factors and therefore can best be incorporated into ruminant feeding systems.Key words: Nutrient composition; Anti-nutritional constituents; tree plants; forage gras

Microelement contents of two Panicum maximum varieties as influenced by manure type and season

A study was carried out to determine the influence of variety, manure type and season on the micro mineral content of two P. maximum varieties. The trial included: two Panicum varieties (Local and Ntchisi), three manure types (cattle dung, swine dung and poultry droppings) plus control (No manure) and two seasons (rainy and dry). Samples were harvested from each plot to estimate dry matter yield (DMY), crude protein, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre and microelements (Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn). The DMY of Ntchisi variety was higher (P<0.01) than that of the Local variety. Grasses fertilized with swine manure had the best (P<0.001) DMY while yield was better in the rainy season compared with dry season. There was season difference in the mineral contents except (P>0.05) for Fe. Manure differences were only noticed in the Zn and Mn contents of the grasses. Despite these differences, the grasses contained adequate amount of microelements required by ruminants, with the exception of Cu content in the dry season. In production systems where the two Panicum varieties constitute the major diets of grazing animals, it would be necessary to offer supplementary Cu in the dry season.Keywords: Panicum, microelements, manure type, season, variety

Effect of sole maize and maize –lablab silage on the ruminal volatile fatty acids (VFAS) of grazing calves in the dry season

Silages of sole maize and mixtures of maize-lablab were made at harvest in plastic bags. The experimental Unit consists of twelve cross-bred yearling bulls (White Fulani x N’dama) calves weighing 71-72kg and were randomly allotted to three dietary treatments: Grazing + sole maize silage, Grazing + mixtures of maize-lablab silage and Unsupplemented grazing as control. The experimental design was a completely randomized design and lasted 84days. Silage diets were given between 07:30 and 11:00 hours daily before grazing. Rumen fluid was collected at the end of the study to evaluate the co-efficient of ruminal fluid. The crude protein content in sole maize silage was half of that in mixture of maize-lablab silage. Inclusion of lablab in maize stover silage increased the mineral content as well as the lignin fraction. The mean pH value of sole maize silage (3.80) was less (P < 0.05) than 4.25 obtained with addition of lablab. The buffering capacity (5.37%) of sole maize silage significantly (P < 0.05) increased to 5.71% in mixture of maize-lablab silage. Lactic acid contents differed was influenced significantly (P < 0.05) with a mean value of 8.4% and 8.5% respectively in the sole maize silage and with lablab inclusion. Total volatile fatty acid (VFA) ranged from 56.7 μmoles/ml in calves without supplementation to 95.2 μmoles/ml in the calves fed mixture of maize-lablab silage. Mixture of Maize-lablab silage had the highest values for all the minerals determined in the feed materials while sole maize had the least. It was concluded from this trial, that forage legumes are relatively good sources of degradable nitrogen and fermentable energy, so their inclusion in the diet is likely to increase the rumen population of cellulolytic microbes and also proves that, mixture of maize-lablab silage could be used as supplement to enhance the growth and survival of calves during the dry season, when animal feeds are relatively scarce.Keywords: Grazing calves; maize stover; natural pasture; volatile fatty acid