Irrigation and manure application influence on in vitro digestibility of herbaceous legumes

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of swine manure rates (0, 5, 10 tonha-1) and irrigation frequencies (2 and 4 days interval) on in vitro fermentation characteristics of three herbaceous forage legumes (Lablab purpureus, Mucuna pruriens and Vigna unguiculata). The experiment was a factorial design with three replicates. The legumes were harvested 12 weeks after sowing. The results showed no significant (p > 0.05) difference in crude protein content for all the parameters determined while lowest neutral detergent fibre content was 450.00 g kg-1 in legumes fertilized with 10tonha-1 manure and the highest was 482.78 g kg-1 in unfertilized legumes. Tannin contents ranged (p < 0.05) from 3.60 g kg-1 in V. unguiculata to 6.60 g kg-1 in M. pruriens. Application of 10 tonha-1 manure caused (P<0.05) higher total anaerobic bacteria count (TABC) (1.65 x106 cfu/ml), dry matter (63.98%) and crude protein (59.5 %) digestibility to be produced by the legumes compared to other manure rates. Lablab purpureus had highest TABC (1.13 x106 cfu/ml) while M. pruriens recorded highest DMD (62.22%) and CPD (58.00%). Legumes irrigated at 2 days intervals had higher TABC content (1.13 x106 cfu/ml) while legumes irrigated at 4 days interval had higher DMD (57.91%) and CPD (52.50%). In conclusion, application of 10 tonha-1 manure rate at 4 days irrigation frequency of the legumes will go a long way to improve the digestibility and availability of nutrients to ruminants

Nutritional Evaluation of Adansonia digitata (Baobab Fruit) as a replacement for maize in the diet of Broiler Chickens

Feeding trial was carried out to investigate the nutritional value of Adansonia digitata (Baobab seed and fruit pulp) as feed resource using one hundred and fifty (150) day old broiler chicks. Maize meal was replaced with Baobab meal at 0, 20,  30, 40 and 50% replacement levels. The birds were equally and randomly allotted to the diets while water and other management practices were  carried out  accordingly. Daily feed intake and weekly weight gain were monitored while feed conversion ratio was estimated. At  the end of 8 weeks, feacal and blood samples were collected and analyzed for nutrient digestibility and haematological parameters respectively. Birds fed 40% replacement level had best feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio and least feed cost per body weight gain compared to other treatments control inclusive. Nutrient digestibility of the experimental  birds was significantly (P<0.05) affected. The parameters measured increased as the inclusion level increased. The RBC, WBC, Hb and PCV were not significantly influenced (p>0.05) by level of BM while lymphocyte, monocyte and eosiniphil were  significantly affected. It could be concluded that Baobab meal can be used up to 40% as a replacement for maize in the diets of broiler chickens without adverse effect on performance and health status of the birds. therefore be  recommended that the test ingredient can be used to replace maize up to 40% without adverse effect on performance of the birds.Keywords: Adansonia digitata, Broiler, Performance, Digestibility, Haematolog

Stylosanthes hamata spacing effect on utilization of Andropogon tectorum by west African dwarf sheep

Twenty four West African Dwarf (WAD) sheep of an average initial weight range of 10.14- 10.50 kg were used to investigate the feed intake and digestibility of Andropogon tectorum interplanted with Stylosanthes hamata at varying inter-row spacing of 0, 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5m. The grasses cut from experimental plots were used as experimental diets 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively. Animals were randomly distributed (after acclimatization) to the four treatments using a completely randomized experimental design (CRD). The initial weight, final weight and average feed intake were monitored while average daily feed intake, average daily weight gain, nutrient digestibility and nitrogen balance were determined. All the data obtained were subjected to one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) as packaged by SAS (2000). The nutrient intake was significantly (