Chemical evaluation of foliage of some tropical leguminous trees and shrubs as fodder

Foliage of thirteen leguminous species viz: Mzelia africana, Albizia zygia, Baphia nitida, Cassia siamea, Delonix regia, Parkia biglobosa, Samanea saman, Caesalpinia pulcherrima, Cassia mimosoides, Desmodium velutinum, Flemingia macrophylla, Tephrosia bracteolata and T. densiflora were collected from the wild and the Fulani cattle rearers' settlement around Abeokuta, Nigeria. The samples were analysed for their proximate constituents: crude protein {(CP) ether extract (EE), crude fibre (CF), ash and nitrogen free extracts (NFE)} , and the levels of macro- (Ca, P, Mg, K and Na) and micro-mineral (Mn, Cu, Zn and Fe) elements. The mean values of CP, EE, CF, ash and NFE for trees were 15.2 ± 3.5, 5.2±1.7, 17.8±3.7, 6.2±2.2 and 46.8±3.1 % respectively. The corresponding values for the shrubs were 15.4±1.3, 4.1±0.9, 19.3±1.1, 6. 7±1.3 and 46.4±2. 8 %. The foliage analysed contained adequate level of Ca, Mg and Fe for growth of ruminant livestock with mean values of 0.56±0.30%, 0.16±0.08% and 131.1±74.2 ppm respectively for trees and 1.15±O.49%, 0.2 ±0.06% and 88. 7±49.9 ppm for shrubs. The levels of P, Cu, Zn and K in the foliage were inadequate using the NRC recommendations for ruminants (NRC 1981). The respective mean values were 0.09±0.06%, 3.9±3.1 ppm, 19.5±16.4 ppm, and O.07±O.5 %, 3.7±2.6ppm, 21.7±21.6 ppm and 0.21±0.14% for shrubs. The levels of Na (0.11±0.07% for trees; 0.06 0.04% for shrubs) and Mn (96. 0±142.9 ppm for trees; 49.2±27.21 ppm for shrubs) were marginally adequate. It is suggested that more effort be undertaken to conserve these species as they have better nutritive potential than grasses when used as forage in the dry season

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND MICROBIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF PELLETIZED CASSAVA BASED DIETS AT DIFFERENT DAYS OF STORAGE

This study was carried out to determine storability, microbiological assay and chemical composition of pelletized cassava based diets. Four nitrogenous sources were used in the experimental diets as follows: T1, contained 200g/kg palm kernel cake (PK); 200g/kg caged layers droppings (CL) (T2), 200g/kg Gmelina arborea (GA) leaves (T3) and 40g/kg urea (UR)(T4). All the diets were pelletized. Other ingredients (g/kg) that made up each of the treatments were as follows: cassava sievate, 205; molasses, 100; Sulphur, 3; corn bran, 80; salt, 7; vit./min. Premix, 5. Media used were Salmonella Shigella agar, Potato dextrose agar, Manitol salt agar and Eosine methylene blue agar. Samples (1g) were taken at intervals of 1, 15 and 30 days for microbial analysis, while chemical composition was analysed at  1 day and 30 days after storage. Data generated were subjected to one way Analysis of Variance using Completely randomized design. No visible colour change, caking and mould growth were observed. Most of the bacteria and fungi isolated (Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter sp., Mucour sp., Aspergillus sp.,) were persistent throughout the storage period. There was no significant difference between microbial profile and total viable counts of the diets forms. GA had the highest level of crude protein. Proximate and fibre fractions of the diets reduced with increase in storage age. Thus, feeding animals with the pelletized cassava-based feed with urea as the non-protein nitrogen source either readily or after storage is recommended.     &nbsp

Comparative efficacy of three commercial vitamin and trace mineral premixes for rearing broiler chickens at starter and finisher phases

Six groups of 45 unsexed day-old Hubbard broiler chicks were randomly assigned in duplicate at the starter phase (0-5 weeks) to three isocaloric and iso-nitrogenous diets which were fortified at manufacturers recommended levels with three commercial vitamin and trace mineral premixes purchased locally and labelled as premix A, U and Z. At the finisher phase (6 -9 weeks) the birds were shuffled and subdivided into three finisher treatment groups of two replicates each. One treatment group continued to receive the same premix as during the starter phase, while the other two groups were assigned the remaining premixes not given at the starter phase for that particular treatment group. Thus nine premix combinations were used at the finisher phase. The premix type fed at the starter phase led to differences (P > 0.05) in the protein intake, mean weight gain and weight gain per unit protein intake of the birds. Protein intake and weight gain per unit protein intake were not significantly different (P < 0.05) at the finisher phase. The serum uric and serum creatinine levels indicate that birds fed premix Z at the starter phase utilized the dietary protein more efficiently than those fed the other two premixes. Variable values were obtained for the serum metabolites at the finisher phase. It was concluded that available premixes for broilers in Nigeria vary in their content and their effect of protein nutriture ofbroiler chickens. It is recommended that if combinations of premixes are to be used in rearing broilers, care should be taken to feed a proven premix of good quality at the starter phase

Performance and nutrient utilization of cockerel finishers fed graded levels of rice milling waste

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of rice milling waste (RMW) on performance and nutrient utilization of cockerel finishers. One hundred and fifty 9-week old Black Harco cockerels were raised on five experimental diets where RMW replaced maize at graded levels and designated diet 1 (0% RMW); diet 2 (15% RMW without palm oil); diet 3 (30% RMW without palm oil); diet 4 (15% RMW with palm oil) and diet 5 (30% RMW with palm oil). The diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isoenergetic. Each diet was fed to a group of 30 birds for a period of ten weeks. Records were maintained on body weight gain, feed intake and mortality while digestibility trials were conducted at the end of the experiment. There was no significant difference (P&gt;0.05) in weight gain between treatments, however dietary treatments had significant (P&lt;0.05) effect on feed intake, feed to gain ratio and feed cost. Apparent crude protein retention and digestibilities of dry matter, ether extract, crude fibre and ash were significant for ail dietary treatments. From the study it was concluded that RMW can he included in cockerel finisher diet at up to 30% level when the diet is supplemented with palm oil. Keywords: Cockerels, rice milling waste, utilizatio

Effects of Molasses and Storage Period on the Chemical, Microbial and Fermentation Characteristics of Guinea Grass - Cassava Leaves Silage

The study was conducted to determine the effects of molasses and storage periods on the chemical composition, microbial and fermentation characteristics of silage produced from guinea grass and cassava leaves mixture. Guinea grass was harvested at 2 months regrowth from an established pasture and cassava tops collected immediately after root harvest consisting of only the tops with the green stem and its leaf canopy. The forages were wilted and thoroughly mixed in the ratio of 70:30 (guinea grass: cassava leaves); mixed with molasses at the rate of 0, 2, 4 and 6 % and ensiled for 30 and 60 days respectively for fermentation. The DM, CP, NDF, HCN and tannin contents of the ensiled guinea grass and cassava leaves significantly reduced as the level of molasses addition and storage period increased. The acetic acid fermentation was high in the 0, 2, 4 and 6% molasses addition with values ranging from 40.2 to 42.4 g/kg DM while the lactic acid content was only 18.4 to 30.3 g/kg DM at the 0% molasses addition. However, lactic acid fermentation increased significantly as both the storage periods and molasses addition increased from 0 to 60 days. The highest bacterial count (8.4 log cfu/g) was recorded at the 0% molasses addition and this significantly reduced as molasses addition increased from 0 to 6% and as the ensiling periods elongate from 0 to 60 days. However, a sharp decline in fungi count was observed with increase in the percentage of molasses added. The bacteria isolated from the silage were Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus spp., Enterobacter spp., Proteus spp., Escherichia coli and Lactobacillus buchneri. It is concluded that ensiling mixture of guinea grass and cassava leaves with molasses increased lactic acid and suppressed the production of acetic and butyric acids with drastic reduction in microbial load.Keywords: Guinea grass, cassava, storage period, molasses, fermentation, chemical compositio