Growth performance and nutrients digestibility of yankasa sheep fed sugarcane waste silage

A Feeding trial was conducted for twelve weeks (eighty four days) to assess the performance of Yankasa sheep fed ensiled sugarcane waste (ESCW) enhanced with non – protein nitrogen (urea and poultry litter) sources and soybean meal. Sixteen (16) Yankasa rams (mean body weight 25kg±0.46; aged 8 to 15 months) were randomly allotted to the treatments groups viz; T1 (100% SCW plus urea, unensiled) as control, T2 (100% SCW plus urea, ensiled), T3 (75%SCW plus 25% SBM, ensiled) and T4 (75% SCW plus 25% PL, ensiled) with four animals per treatment in a randomised complete block design (RCBD). The experimental diets were offered as basal diet along with clean drinking water and mineral salt lick ad-libitum, while a concentrate diet was formulated containing 16.26% CP and offered at 1.5% body weight to each of the experimental animals. The results obtained indicated non significant (P>0.05) differences in the treatment means of all the growth parameters evaluated however, all the values obtained for T3 and T4 were numerically higher. The digestibility of DM, CF and NFE showed that T3 and T4 gave significantly (P<0.05) higher values. In conclusion ensilage of SCW with urea, soybean meal and poultry litter enhanced its utilization by Yankasa rams, since all the animals in all the treatments gained weight. It is therefore recommended that SCW could be enhanced and ensiled with either urea (4% : 100% SCW), SBM (25% : 75% SCW) or PL (25%:75% SCW) for dry season sheep feeding.Keywords digestibility, sugarcane waste, non-protein nitrogen, Yankasa shee

Toxicity Studies of Amaranth viridis Linn (Spiny Amaranth) Using Albino Rats

The study examined the effect of feeding albino rats with 75% Spiny amaranths leaves with respect to their body weight, liver and kidney indices, haematological and histological response. The results showed that rats fed with the leaves experienced decreased in body weight compared to the control group. The Packed Cell Volume (PCV), Haemoglobin concentration (Hb), lymphocytes were significantly elevated (p>0.05) compared to the control group, while neutophils was significantly lower (p>0.05) compared to the control

Effect of energy graded levels on live weight and nutrient digestibility of pregnant Red Sokoto Goat

The aims of the study were to determine the effect of energy graded levels on live weight and nutrient digestibility of pregnant red Sokoto goat. A total of twenty (20) yearlings red Sokoto does were synchronized for pregnancy using a buck. The animals were divided into four treatment groups of five (5) animals each containing four graded energy levels of 2,400, 2,200, 2,000 and 1800 kcal/kg ME in a completely randomized design (CRD). Feed and were given to the animals ad-libitum. The result revealed that 1800 to 2,400 kcal/kg ME were acceptable to pregnant does, although there were no significant differences (P>0.05) observed between treatment means in terms of final weight, average daily gain (ADG), feed intake, dry matter as percentage body weight and feed conversion ratio (FCR) despite numerical differences exist that are not statistically (P>0.05) significant. The crude fibre, either extract (EE), ash, nitrogen free extract, acid detergent fibre, lignin and energy intake of the pregnant does were significantly (P<0.05) affected by different energy levels. The use of energy graded levels on live weight and nutrient digestibility of pregnant red Sokoto goats has beneficial effect of nutrient digestibility. The present study showed that crude fibre either extract, ash, nitrogen free extract, acid detergent fibre increased significantly as the level of energy increases. This indicates that inclusion of energy graded levels increases nutrient digestibility with increases of energy. Therefore, this study recommends the use of 2400 kcal ME/Kg and 2200 Kcal ME/Kg energy level for pregnant Red Sokoto doe

Performance and digestibility by Uda rams fed concentrate diets containing graded levels of camel's foot pod meal (CFPM)

The study was conducted to investigate the performance of Uda rams fed concentrate diets containing graded levels of Camel's foot pod meal  (CFPM). Sixteen (16) entire male Uda rams with an average initial weight of 30+0.0kg were allotted into four (4) dietary treatments in a Complete Randomized Design. Four (4) experimental concentrate diets were compounded with CFPM replacing soya bean meal at 0, 20, 40 and 60% levels of  inclusion representing diets 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. The concentrate diets were offered to the animals at 1.50% of their body weight and concentrate feeding was adjusted on weekly body weight basis while rice straws were served ad libitum as basal diet. At the end of the 12 weeks feeding trial, a digestibility trial was conducted which lasted 21 days using three animals from each treatment. Parameters measured were dry  matter intake, live weight changes, feed to gain ratio and nutrients digestibility. Results showed that the organic matter content of the diet containing 40% CFPM was highest compared to other diets. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in dry matter intake and live weight  changes among the treatments. The dry matter intake was higher in treatment 2 (993.02g) than in treatment 1 (932.32g) likewise the live weight changes was higher in treatment 4 (36.25kg) than treatment 1 (34.00kg). The feed to gain ratio ranged from 17.62 in treatment 4 to 25.42 in  treatment 2. Nutrients digestibility increased with increasing level of CFPM in the diets. The DM, CP and ash digestibility were higher (p>0.05) in treatment 4 compared to the control treatment while the ADL was also higher (p<0.05) in treatment 4 than the control treatment. The optimum  weight gain (36.25kg) and efficient utilization (17.92) was achieved at 60% inclusion level of CFMP. Therefore, Piliostigma reticulatum pods can serve as a potential fodder feed resource for ruminant fattening programme. Keywords: Performance, Uda rams, Camel's foot pods, concentrate diets&nbsp

Effects of varying inclusion levels of inoculants-treated soybean residues on nutrient intake and digestibility of uda rams

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding varying inclusion levels of inoculants-treated soybean residues (ITSR) on nutrient intake and digestibility of Uda sheep. A twelve weeks (12) feeding trial was conducted using thirty-five (35) Uda rams which were allotted to diets as T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6 and T7 having 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50% and 60% inclusion levels of ITSR respectively, in a completely randomized design. The findings of the study revealed that the values obtained for nutrient intake and digestibility were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by treatment. The nutrient intake and digestibility assessed increased from T2 (10% ITSR inclusion level) to T4 (30% ITSR inclusion level), although, there was a decline in nutrient intake and digestibility as the inclusion level of ITSR increased from 40%, the results obtained showed that the parameters assessed compared favorably with the control. It was concluded that for optimum growth performance or weight gain, inclusion of ITSR in the diet of Uda rams should not exceed 30%. It is recommended that ITSR could be used as feed supplement in the diets of sheep as it has the potential of meeting the protein requirements of sheep.Key words: Soybean residue, Inoculants-treated, Uda sheep, Nutrient Intake, Digestibilit