Effect of broiler litter supplementation on reproductive performance of West African Dwarf sheep

Four low cost feed samples were formulated using 0, 25, 50 and 75% levels of broiler litter processed into feed along with other feed ingredients. Sixteen (16) primiparous West African Dwarf (WAD) ewes aged between twelve and eighteen months old were dewormed using Ivermectin and dipped against ticks and fleas using diazintol. Oestrus was artificially synchronized in all the ewes using 1ml of Prostaglandin - 2Fα administered intramuscularly, the animals were mated with rams of known fertility and lineage bred. Ewes were evaluated in a pregnancy trial while the lambs born were evaluated in a preweaning growth trial. All the ewes were weighed before conception and bimonthly thereafter until parturition. The parameters studied were weight at mating, weight before and after parturition, weight changes during pregnancy, weight changes in lactation and nursing, lambs birth weights and daily weight of lambs, dam's weight at weaning and gestation length. Results obtained showed weight at mating, weight before mating, weight at parturition, gestation length, weight gain in pregnancy, weight change in lactation and nursing, lambs birth weights and daily weight gain of lambs were significantly affected (p<0.05) while dam's weight at weaning and lambs' weaning weight were not affected (p>0.05). Results of this study indicate that inclusion of broiler litter up to 50% in feed mixtures of ewes has no deleterious effect on the performance and health status of ewes during pregnancy and lactation.Keywords: Ewes, pregnancy, parturition, lactation, broiler litte

Haematological evaluation of pregnant ewes fed broiler - litter based diets

Blood is a transport medium for the body which plays an active role in sustainability and survival of the organism. Haematological indices reflect the effect of dietary treatments on the animal especially the type and amount of feed ingested and available for the animal to meet its bodyrequirements. A study was carried out for 10 weeks to assess changes in some haematological indices with advancing pregnancy in ewes fed Broiler Litter (BL) based rations. Blood samples were collected at each trimester of pregnancy and analyzed for Packed Cell Volume (PCV), Red BloodCell (RBC), White Blood Cell (WBC) counts and Haemoglobin (Hb) concentration. Other parameters estimated were: Mean Corpuscular Value (MCV) and Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC). Results showed that in the first trimester, PCV and Hb. values weresignificantly higher (

Nutritive Evaluation Of Variously Treated Mucuna Seeds As Feed For Ruminants

Mucuna as a feed has great ability to serve as a source of energy and protein in dry season feeds due to the fact that it has high crude protein content comparable to other well known legumes. The study was designed to evaluate the nutritive compositions of Mucuna beans subjected to various treatments. The treatments that the Mucuna beans were subjected to include: roasting, boiling, autoclaving and raw, thereafter, the chemical analysis of the variously treated beans was determined. Similarly, the invitro gas production was determined. The results showed significant differences in the roasted beans for all the parameters determined. Invitro gas production showed boiled, autoclaved and raw beans to be more utilizable as sheep feed than the roasted form. Heat treatment made the protein content in beans steadily unavailable for ruminant use as such Mucuna can gradually serve as a source of energy for ruminants especially in dry season when there is scarcity of energy sources for ruminants

Nutrient digestibility and rumen fermentation of dried cassava peels and brewers dried grains based diets by West African dwarf (WAD) sheep

In the tropics, supplementing concentrates with grasses, especially during the dry season could improve protein to energy ratio in ruminants thereby improving optimum production. Also, supplementation with a protein source enhances the production capacity of ruminants. Therefore, this study was designed to determine the nutrient digestibility and rumen fermentation kinetics of Panicum maximum supplemented with brewers dried grains and dried cassava peels based diets by West African Dwarf (WAD) lambs. Nine lambs of about 9 months in age and bodyweight ranging from 10.5kg-16.5kg were randomly divided into 3 groups and assigned to the following diets: Diet 1-100% Panicum maximum, Diet 2 - 81% DCP + 13.50% PKC + 2% Oyster shell + 2% Salt + 1.50% Premix and Diet 3 - 81% BDG + 13.50% PKC + 2% Oyster shell + 2% Salt and 1.50 Premix. Result showed that animals on diet 1recorded the least significant (p< 0.05) dry matter digestibility (55.00%) to those on diets 2 and diet 3. Animals on diet 3 recorded the best crude protein digestibility (66.88%) which was significantly different (p<0.05) from those on diets 1 and 2 (53.04% and 56.79%). Animals on diet 1 recorded the highest significant (p<.0.05) amount of ammonia nitrogen at O and 4hours post feeding. The same trend seems to occur for volatile fatty acids (acetate, propionate and butyrate) at O hour post feeding. However, at 4 hour post feeding, animals on diet 3 recorded a slight numerical advantage over other animals. It can therefore be deduced from this study that diet 3 was most preferred as evident from the chemical composition of the feed and nutrient digestibility of the lambs.Keywords: Dried cassava peels, brewer’s dried grains, digestibility, fermentation kinetics and lambs

Quality and acceptability of velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens) foliage ensiled with whole plant maize by west Africa dwarf rams

This experiment was conducted to determine the suitability of Velvet Bean Foliage (VBF) and Whole Plant Maize (WPM) silage as dry season feed for ruminants in Southwest of Nigeria. In this study, WPM was ensiled with five levels of VBF (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%). Physical characteristics, temperature, pH and proximate composition of the silages were assessed after 21 days of ensiling. Preference for the silage by ruminants was determined using twelve West African dwarf (WAD) rams. Results revealed that pH, temperature and physical characteristics of all silages were within acceptable range except for VBF -100 which did not make good silage. The appearance, smell and texture of all the silage mixtures compromised increasing level of VBF while the pH increased. The pH of the silage varied from 3.92-7.98. Dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) and crude fibre (CF) concentration in the silages ranged from 20.67 – 26.65, 8.02 – 15.77, 26.42 - 1926g/100g, respectively. The DM and CF of the silages reduced with increasing level of VBF in the mixture while the CP increased. Coefficient of preference (CoP) for the silage varied from 0.79 to 1.13 while percentage preference varied from 15.58 - 22.50%. The coefficient of preference (CoP) was above unity for VBF (0, 25, 50 and 75) but less than unity for VBF- 100, showing that rams preferred silage with whole plant maize to sole VBF. This result suggests that quality of Whole plant maize silage improved when velvet bean foliage was added; however, acceptability by WAD rams was compromised.Keywords: Velvet bean foliage, whole plant maize, silage, quality, acceptability, rams

Sex Comparison of White Fulani Cattle Blood Profile in Southwestern Nigeria

Sexual dimorphism has been established in the brain regions of farm animals and poultry, but for their blood, reports do not agree as to differences at the same age. While some reports show no differences except for pregnant and lactating females, others indicate otherwise. This study was carried out to investigate the blood of white Fulani breed of cattle in southwestern Nigeria if there could be differences at same mature age (4yr). A total of 100 cattle were used consisting of 50 bulls and 50 cows. Full haematology was investigated using the Vet AutoHaemoanalyser machine. Some serum metabolites were also investigated including total Protein, Albumin and total cholesterol. Data obtained were subjected to one-way analysis of variance (AOVA). The results show that white blood cell count (WBC) was significantly (P<0.05) higher in females (17.23±1.08) than in males (12.25±0.77). Mean Corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) also showed sex differences with females having higher and significant (P<0.05) average value (33.8±0.19) than males (32.6±0.24). The results from Serum analysis show that bulls (with 37.8±0.54) have higher and significant (P<0.05) Albumin values than cows (34.9±0.29). Though the results obtained in this study fall within normal ranges for this species, it however does not indicate any specific sex effect for this breed.Keywords: cattle, blood, se

Partial replacements of Stylosanthes scabra forage for lucerne in total mixed ration diet of Saanen goats

The inclusion of Stylosanthes scabra cv. Seca forage in the total mixed ration (TMR) as partial replacement of lucerne (alfalfa) was evaluated for its effects on voluntary feed intake, nutrient digestibility and nitrogen balance in Saanen goats. Three experimental diets were formulated having 0 % Seca (T1), 15 % Seca (T2) and 30 % Seca (T3) as partial replacement of lucerne forage in the TMR diet for goats. Eighteen Saanen goats of about 7 months old were divided into three groups of six animals per group. Each group was randomly assigned to one of the three dietary treatments in a complete randomised design, and the study lasted for a period of 21 days. There was an increase in fibre and mineral content of the diets as Seca inclusion increased, but this resulted in the decrease of crude protein contents and in vitro organic matter digestibility. Animals that were fed 15 % Seca recorded higher voluntary dry matter and nutrient (organic matter and fibres) intake, but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05) as compared to the other treatments. Nutrient digestibility as well as nitrogen balance was not significantly different across the three diets. The lack of significant differences in feed intake, nutrient digestibility and nitrogen utilisation following the inclusion of Seca in the TMR suggests that S. scabra forage can partially replace lucerne in the TMR diet of goats.Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD) and National Research Foundation (NRF).http://link.springer.com/journal/112502016-10-31hb201