EVALUATION OF SOME SEMI-ARID BROWSE FORAGES AS FODDER FOR RUMINANT LIVESTOCK

An experiment was conducted to determine the feed of an indigenous browse plats is Borno State of Nigeria.Sixteen bucks of mixed breeds (Borno white x Sokoto red) weighing an average of 12.0 +0.31kg was divided intofour groups with four animals per group. Each group was randomly assigned to one of the four dietary treatmentsin a Latin Square Design (LSD). The diets compared were Acacia nilotica, Balanite aegyptiaca, Khayasenegalensis and Ziziphus muaritiana. The results showed that the average daily gain (ADWG), dry matter intake,per metabolic weight (0.07kg day-1, 641.37kg day-1, 74.58g day-1) and feed conversion ratio (0.12) weresignificantly (p<0.05) better with animals on diet T (Ziziphus mauritianna). The result also revealed that T had 4 3the best in terms of feed cost per kg gain (N60.49), and percent reduction in feed cost (N53.04%). From the results,it can be concluded that feeding of Ziziphus mauritiana to growing goats at 30% level of inclusion is beneficial

Correlation between chemical composition and in vitro Dry Matter Digestibility of Leaves of Semi-arid Browses of North-East Nigeria

The potential nutritive values of eight browse forages namely: Olea hochstteteri, Ziziphus mauritiana, Ziziphus spinzchristi, Pterocarpus erinceus, Sterculia setigera, Balanites aegyptiaca, Ficus sycomorus and Adansonia digitata of North-east Nigeria were evaluated by chemical composition and in vitro dry matter digestibility. The samples were collected and analyzed in triplicates. There were significant differences among species in terms of chemical composition. A range of 2.00 to 6.00% and 12.00 to 18.00% DM were recorded for EE and Ash values for the eight browses. Their fiber parameters showed a range of 34.40 to 54.80, 16.55 to 33.40, 9.70 to 67.17, g/100g DM for NDF, ADF and ADL, respectively. The values reported for anti-nutritive factors range from 0.12 to 0.41 mg/g MD for TCT and 0.24 to 0.81 mg/g MD for phenolic. Dry samples (leaves) of eight semi-arid browses were used as substrates. Crude protein (CP) in leaf dry matter ranged from 13.23 in Olea hochstteteri to 18.31% DM in balanites aegyptiaca. The IVDMD had the lowest IVDMD (45.00% DM) and lowest CP content (13.23%). The result also reveals a negative correlation of IVDMD with cell wall contents (NDF, ADF and ADL) and a positive correlation with TCT, and a positive correlation between CP and phenolic. The result for methane production shows that Ziziphus spinachisti had the highest methane value (4ml/200mg DM). Based on chemical composition and in vitro dry matter digestibility, the browse species forage have high potential nutritive value, especially as protein supplements to poor quality forage for ruminant animals in the tropics and in terms of rumen and whole tract digestibility

Effect of substituting soya bean meal with Gmelina arborea leaf meal on performance and rumen fermentation of red Sokoto bucks

An experiment was conducted using sixteen 5-month-old Red Sokoto buck with an average weight of 6.29 ± 0.21 kg body weight (BW)) randomly distributed into four groups of four animals per group, were used to study the effects of substituting Gmelina arborea leaf meal with soybean meal on voluntary intake, body weight, morphological and testicular characteristics, and economics of production for 77 days in a completely randomized design using analysis of variance. The goats in treatment 1 received 0% Gmelina arborea leaf meal, treatment 2, 3 and 4 received 10, 20, and 30% GLM respectively replaced with an equal amount (dry matter basis) of soybean meal (SBM). Daily intakes of dry matter (g/d-1), crude protein, organic matter, nitrogen free extract, neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre were (p<0.05) affected by diets. Intake of acid detergent fibre was greater (p<0.05) for the treatment diets relative to the control diet. Diet effects on the body weight, linear body measurements and testicular morphology of the goats were marginal (p>0.05), except for initial scrotal length and circumference which was markedly (p<0.05) affected. Cost of feeding declined with the increasing level of Gmelina arborea leaf meal rate in the diet. Cost of feed consumed/goat and cost of feeding/kg BW gain were higher (p<0.05) for the control diet than for the treatment diets. Percent reduction in feed cost is outstanding for T4 compare to other treatment groups receiving GLM. These findings suggest that Gmelina leaf meal can be safely used up to 100% level to substitute SBM in a mix diets for growing bucks, without depressing voluntary intake, body weight, morphological and testicular parameters, and improve economic benefits to farmers. However, for better economic returns, 100% substitution of Gmelina arborea leaf meal with soybean meal is superior.Keywords: Soya bean, Gmelina arborea, performance, rumen fermentation, and goat

Heamatological and Histopathological Assay of Red Sokoto Bucks Fed Varying Levels of Energy and Protein Feeds

An experiment was conducted to determine the haematological, biochemical and histopathological indices of goats fed energy (molasses) and protein (Groundnut cake) in a mixed ration. The dietary treatments compared were T1 (0% molasses and 40% GNC), T2 (10% molasses and 30% GNC), T3 (20% molasses and 20% GNC), T4 (30% molasses and 10% GNC), and T5 (50% molasses and 0% GNC). The animals were allotted to five (5) dietary treatments in a complete randomized block design with four animals per treatment. The results reveal significantly (p<0.05) higher values for Neutral Detergent Fibre (NDF), Non-fibre carbohydrates and Energy content of the diets (394.00 g kg-1 DM, 341.00 g kg-1 DM and 2668.70 kcal/kg).  Packed cell volume (PCV), Haemoglobin (Hb) and Red blood cell count (RBC) were significantly (P<0.05) higher for T4. White blood cell differentials and lymphocytes significantly higher (P>0.05) among treatments. Neutrophils was observed to be highest for T5 compared to other treatment groups. All the parameters studied for serum biochemical indices were significantly (P<0.05) different among treatments except for Sodium (Na2+, K2+, Total Bilirubin, Triglycerol and High Density lipoprotein). Histopathology of the kidney revealed that T1 shows no damage, T2 showed mild necrosis while T3 showed moderate necrosis, atrophy congestion and degeneration of the convoluted tubules. T4 showed severe necrosis, congestion, atrophy degeneration of the convoluted tubules. The result of the micrograph also showed severe congestion, necrosis and degeneration of convoluted tubules. The histopathology of the liver for T1 reveals no expanded portal zones with portal fibrosis with fewer pyknotic nuclei in hepatocytes and lymphocytes infiltration while T2 and T3 were characterized with infiltration by inflammatory cells with multifocal areas of necrosis. The photomicrograph of the liver also reveals severe vescular degeneration of the hepatocytes for T4 and T5. The effect of molasses was also observed on spleen as the level of molasses increase from T1 to T5. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that feeding high energy (40% molasses) and protein (0% GNC) level of inclusion has negative effect on the kidney, liver and spleen

Bacterial Assessment and Quality Analysis of Raw Milk Sold in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, Nigeria

Analysis of raw milk from four different local farmers within Gwagwalada Area Council (FCT) Abuja, were assessed to determine the bacterial load of the milk. The experiment was assigned to four treatment based on farm location, namely: Adams Farm (T1) (Control); Dagiri herd (T2); Kutunku herd (T3); and Dukpa herd (T4). The treatments had three replicates (R1-R3) in a randomized block design (CDR). The result revealed that raw milk sampled contained various bacteria species which include species of Bacillus subtillis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp, Lactobacillus spp,Streptococcus spp. The total viable bacteria counts ranged from 1.0 x106 -5.6x107 cfu/ml, while Bacillus subtillis has the highest frequency of occurrence (26.84%) followed by Escherichia coli (24.39%), Staphylococcus aureus (24.39%), Salmonella spp. (17.06%), Lactobacillus spp. (4.88%) and Streptococcus spp (2.44%). Bacteria count in treatment T3 had the lowest count followed by T4 and T2 and highest for T1. Treatment T3 is therefore better in terms of bacteria load than others (T1, T2 and T4). Key Words: Raw milk, Gwagwalada Area Council, Microbial load

Growth Performance and Nutrients Digestibility of Weanling Rabbits Graded Levels of Sesame Seed Meal (Sesamum indicum) in Semi-Arid Region of Nigeria

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of various levels of sesame seed meal inclusion on the performance and apparent nutrient digestibility of weanling rabbits. Sixteen, (New Zealand White) rabbits of mixed sexes were used for the experiment. They were weighed and randomly allotted to four dietary treatments with four rabbits per treatment. The levels of sesame seed meal in T1, T2, T3 and T4 were 0, 4, 8, and 12% respectively. The diets and clean water were offered ad libitum throughout the experimental period of 63 days. The parameters measured were feed intake, live weight gain. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) and apparent nutrient digestibility. Rabbits on treatment 3 significantly (

Foetal losses in small ruminants: a case study of Hadejia and Malam Madori, Jigawa State

A study was conducted to assess the extent of foetal losses from small ruminants and factors responsible for slaughtering of inbred female animals in semi-arid abattoirs of Hadeja and Malam-Madori, Jigawa State. The study was carried out through the use of structured questionnaire administered to 160 respondents in the abattoirs for a period of three months (June-August, 2013). The results revealed that youths aged less than 25 (35.71%) and 36-45 (37.14%) years were the main source of labour in Hadejia and Malam-Madori, respectively.The respondents were mostly engaged in evisceration and skinning (75.71% and 82.86%) in the abattoirs. Majority (77.15% and 72.00%) of the respondents in both study areas were males, mostly (68.00% and 60.00%) married, few (12.00% and 9.33%) had tertiary education, while many (26.67% and 32.00%) had acquired secondary education. Small ruminant foetuses recovered from 6 to 10 per day were 65.71% and 52.85% which vary with season. It was concluded that there was a cause for concern on loss of foetuses especially among small ruminants. It was suggested that awareness should be created among livestock rearers/farmers and butchers on the implication of the slaughtering of pregnant animals and its consequence on the future of our small ruminant’s population since increase in population of any livestock species is based on reproduction. Thus, legislation prohibiting indiscriminate slaughter of pregnant or inbred female animals should be enforced or enacted as this has far reaching negative impact on reproduction/production and revenue generation in the subsector and thus enhance food security in the study areas.Keywords: Ruminant, Foetus and livestoc

The effect of substituting cowpea husk with Daniellia oliveri foliage on the performance of red Sokoto goat

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of replacing cowpea husk with Daniellia oliveri foliage on the performance of Red Sokoto Goats. Twenty five (25) Red Sokoto goats weighing on the average 13.00 ±1.2kg were divided into five groups with five animals per group. Each group was randomly assigned to the five dietary treatments in a completely randomized design (CRD). The diets compared were 100%, 75%, 50%, 25% and 0% cowpea husk and 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% D. oliveri foliage designated as T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively. Result indicates significant (P<0.05) differences in all the parameters studied for chemical composition of the experimental diets. T5 (100% D. oliveri inclusion) had the highest values for all the parameters for chemical composition except for ether extract acid detergent lignin. All the parameters for the chemical composition was observed to increase with increase in the level D. oliveri foliage. The nutrients digestibility investigated were significantly affected (P<0.05). Dry matter (DM) crude fibre (CFD) and neutral detergent fibre digestibilities (NDFD) was observed to decrease with increase in the level of D. oliveri foliage while crude protein (CPD) and ether extract digestibility increase with increase in the level of D. oliveri. Nitrogen intake and faecal nitrogen output (g/day) of goats in T5 and T3 (15.72 and 4.81 g/day) were significantly higher than the other treatment groups. Urinary nitrogen was significantly (P<0.05) influenced by all the dietary treatment groups, with goats on T4 (4.88 g day-1) being the highest output and T5 (3.32 g/day) the lowest. There was no significant effect (p>0.05) of feeding D. oliveri foliage on carcass components and organ weights except for carcass length, carcass weight, weight of skin, dressing percentage and weight of heart. From the results, it can be concluded that D. oliveri foliage can be fed as sole diet or in combination with cowpea husk in the semi-arid environment.Keywords: Browse, Daniellia oliveri, goats, Digestibility and Carcas

Spatio-temporal variations in camel (Camelus dromedarius) foraging behaviour on rangeland ecosystem of semi-arid north western Nigeria

A considerable number of the dromedary camels are found in the semi-arid part of Northern Nigeria. Apart from the wide use of the camel as a draught animal it now serves as a source of milk, meat and hide in this region. This paper examines the foraging behaviour of the camel on the rangeland in order to determine its major daily activities as influenced by season, sex and age to enable us improve the biodiversity of our rangelands. Four categories of animals (Adult male, Adult Female, Young Male and Young Female) were followed for three consecutive days in both dry and rainy seasons. The result indicates that the time spent by the camels in the two seasons (Wet and Dry) and between Male and Female on various activities were significant (P<0.05). However, there was also a significant difference between the behaviour of the adult and younger camels. In can be concluded that camel spends most of its time grazing during the day and the grazing time is higher in the wet season which is related to the forages availability and that the behaviour is influenced by age rather than sex.Keywords: Behaviour, Camel, Ecosystem, Foraging, Rangelan