Effect of urea treatment on digestibility and utilization of sorghum straw

Nine male goats and nine castrated lambs were randomly divided into three groups of six animals to receive one of three experimental diets in a digestion trial. Diet S, provided chopped sorghum straw (SS), 28/ concentrate (C) and 10/ Dolichos lablab hay (D). Diet Su1 provided SS containing 2/ urea, 24/ C and 12/ D, and diet Sue1 provided SS treated to contain 2/ urea and ensiled for 28 days, plus 25/ C and 14/ D. Twenty four lambs were randomly divided into three groups of eight animals to receive one of three diets in a 56-day growth trial; diet S2 provided SS plus 60/ C; diet Su2 provided SS containing 2/ urea plus 60/ C, and diet Sue2 provided SS treated to contain 2/ urea and ensiled for 28 days, plus 60/ C. The digestion trial showed higher (P<.05) daily intake of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein and neutral detergent fiber for S, than for Sue1 and Su1. Dry matter intake was 55.93; 39.42 and 42.34 g[kgE0.75)E-1) for S1, Su1 and Sue1, respectively. Dry matter intake was slightly higher for lambs [50 g[kgE0.75)E-1] than for goats [42 g[kE0.75)E-1]. There was no effect of dietary treatments on apparent nutrient digestibility. During the growth trial, intake of straw varied from 17.97 (S2) to 24.78 g[kgE0.75)E-1 (Sue2), but differences were not significant. Daily gain did not differ between treatments. Total feed intake and feed efficiency were only slightly affected by dietary treatments. Average feed intake was 4.36/ of body weight. High concentrate intakes may have upset the effect of urea treatment and silo fermentation in this study

Diversification et intégration inter-specifique dans les élevages ruraux au Burkina Faso

Diversification and inter-species integration in rural livestock system in Burkina Faso. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of existing relation between several animal species bred in extensive livestock systems. Data were collected about breeding importance of cattle, sheep, goat and fowl in four villages of the central region of Burkina Faso (Namanegma, Villy-Moukouan, Luili-Nobere and Yambasse). These villages are located in the Soudano-Sahelian agroclimatic zone. Partial correlation and bivariate ordinary least square methods are computed. The results show that livestock practices are related to diversification and species integration strategies of rural households. That is, many households (16.64/) breed four species together, while 6.14/ of households possess one species. Three and two species breeders account for 14.95 and 14.36/ of households respectively. Poultry represents a driving activity in extensive livestock system. From a social welfare standpoint, fowl activity accounts for 49.42/ of households employment. Cattle breeding is the highest stage in this system and represents a kind ofsocioeconomic prestige for the breeder. The four types of livestock are correlated at different levels. Thus, high correlation degrees are noted between poultry and goat (p > 0.50). On the other hand, there is a weak relation between the remote livestock levels (e.g. poultry and cattle, p < 0.50). These results suggest that incentive policies for livestock must take into account breeders strategies. To promote poultry production can create track down effect on the entire livestock system

Effects of Local Feedstuff Supplementation on Zootechnic Performances and Nutritional Status of Village Chickens during the End of the Rainy Season in Burkina Faso

The effect of local feedstuff supplementation during the end of the rainy season, from September to October, on performances of village chicken cockerels was investigated using four treatments (T1 to T4) and four blocks. In T1, birds were allowed to find their daily ration by scavenging only. In T2, T3 and T4, birds received after scavenging supplementation with red sorghum seeds, artisanal sorghum beer by-products or the combination of both, respectively. Four household compounds, in a village in the central region of Burkina Faso, were assigned as blocks. The results suggested that during the end of the rainy season, scavenging enabled an average weight gain of 5.9 g/d in the cockerels. No clear effect of supplementation on performances was observed. When scavenging feedstuffs were available, the local beer byproduct or the association red sorghum/artisanal beer by-product gave higher body weight gains. At the end of the experiment, three to four birds per treatment and per block were slaughtered after scavenging, and crop contents were sun-dried and examined physically. The major components of scavenging feedstuffs during the period of the study were cereals (55%), and worms or insects (22%). This study provides some indications for strategic feeding of village chickens during the end of the rainy season

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) and groundnut (Arachis hypogea L.) haulms as supplements to sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) stover : intake, digestibility and optimum feeding levels

Two feeding trials were conducted to study the combined effects of (i) varying degrees of selective consumption and (ii) supplementation with cowpea (Trail 1) or groundnut haulms (Trial 2), on intake of organic matter (IOM) from sorghum stover, and total intake of digestible organic matter (IDOM). In both trials, 36 rams were allocated to 36 different treatments: six levels of feeding sorghum stover (25, 40, 60, 90, 120 and 160 g organic matter (OM) kg-0.75 per day) combined with six levels of supplementation (0, 5, 12.5, 20, 40, and 60 g OM kg-0.75 per day). Each diet was offered for a 21 day period; intake and digestibility were recorded during the last 9 days. Non-linear regression models were used to describe the combined effects of varying amounts of stover (x) and supplements (s) offered. All animals ate the full amount of supplement offered, but not the sorghum stover. For animals without supplement, maximum intake (m) of stover (i.e. IOM at high levels of x) was estimated at 50.7 g kg-0.75 per day in Trial 1 and 45.7 g kg-0.75 per day in Trial 2. In both trials, m decreased linearly with s at the rate 0.4 g g-1. Also, the shape of the curve relating intake of stover to x was affected by level of supplementation. Digestibility of whole stover (0.47 in Trial 1; 0.40 in Trial 2) was much lower than that of cowpea haulms (0.70) and groundnut haulms (0.62), but in both trials animals selected material of higher digestibility when excess stover was offered. Thus, the negative effect of supplementation on intake of stover was partly compensated by higher digestibility of consumed stover. For rations without cowpea in Trial 1, the maintenance level of IDOM was reached by offering 61 g sorghum OM (kg-0.75 per day) of which 47 g was consumed. With the same amount of offered sorghum 9, 18, 28, 38 and 48 g cowpea OM were needed to attain intake levels equivalent to 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 times maintenance, respectively. In the trial with groundnut, maintenance was not reached with sorghum alone and larger amounts of supplement were required for the levels of intake mentioned above. Iso-production curves describing which amounts of stover and supplement gave the same IDOM, were not linear with constant slope corresponding to the comparative digestibility of whole stover and supplements, but strongly curved. Such curves can be used to derive optimum combinations of stover and higher quality feeds, depending on feed prices, desired production level and taking into account the effects of selective consumption. With prices of cowpea and groundnut haulms 4 times higher than that of stover, the results of Trial 1 indicate that least cost rations for feeding at 1.2 M (maintenance) would consist of 72 g sorghum OM (kg-0.75 per day) combined with 7 g cowpea haulms. For feeding at 1.6 M this would be 70 26 g, and at 2 M, 54 50 g. Similarly, with the feeds used in Trial 2, optimum combinations of sorghum stover and groundnut haulms for the same levels of feeding would be 58 24, 51 47, and 11 78 gOMkg-0.75 perday

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) and groundnut (Arachis hypogea L.) haulms as supplements to sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) stover : intake, digestibility and optimum feeding levels

Two feeding trials were conducted to study the combined effects of (i) varying degrees of selective consumption and (ii) supplementation with cowpea (Trail 1) or groundnut haulms (Trial 2), on intake of organic matter (IOM) from sorghum stover, and total intake of digestible organic matter (IDOM). In both trials, 36 rams were allocated to 36 different treatments: six levels of feeding sorghum stover (25, 40, 60, 90, 120 and 160 g organic matter (OM) kg-0.75 per day) combined with six levels of supplementation (0, 5, 12.5, 20, 40, and 60 g OM kg-0.75 per day). Each diet was offered for a 21 day period; intake and digestibility were recorded during the last 9 days. Non-linear regression models were used to describe the combined effects of varying amounts of stover (x) and supplements (s) offered. All animals ate the full amount of supplement offered, but not the sorghum stover. For animals without supplement, maximum intake (m) of stover (i.e. IOM at high levels of x) was estimated at 50.7 g kg-0.75 per day in Trial 1 and 45.7 g kg-0.75 per day in Trial 2. In both trials, m decreased linearly with s at the rate 0.4 g g-1. Also, the shape of the curve relating intake of stover to x was affected by level of supplementation. Digestibility of whole stover (0.47 in Trial 1; 0.40 in Trial 2) was much lower than that of cowpea haulms (0.70) and groundnut haulms (0.62), but in both trials animals selected material of higher digestibility when excess stover was offered. Thus, the negative effect of supplementation on intake of stover was partly compensated by higher digestibility of consumed stover. For rations without cowpea in Trial 1, the maintenance level of IDOM was reached by offering 61 g sorghum OM (kg-0.75 per day) of which 47 g was consumed. With the same amount of offered sorghum 9, 18, 28, 38 and 48 g cowpea OM were needed to attain intake levels equivalent to 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 times maintenance, respectively. In the trial with groundnut, maintenance was not reached with sorghum alone and larger amounts of supplement were required for the levels of intake mentioned above. Iso-production curves describing which amounts of stover and supplement gave the same IDOM, were not linear with constant slope corresponding to the comparative digestibility of whole stover and supplements, but strongly curved. Such curves can be used to derive optimum combinations of stover and higher quality feeds, depending on feed prices, desired production level and taking into account the effects of selective consumption. With prices of cowpea and groundnut haulms 4 times higher than that of stover, the results of Trial 1 indicate that least cost rations for feeding at 1.2 M (maintenance) would consist of 72 g sorghum OM (kg-0.75 per day) combined with 7 g cowpea haulms. For feeding at 1.6 M this would be 70 26 g, and at 2 M, 54 50 g. Similarly, with the feeds used in Trial 2, optimum combinations of sorghum stover and groundnut haulms for the same levels of feeding would be 58 24, 51 47, and 11 78 gOMkg-0.75 perday

Modifications chimiques et estimation de la dégradabilité de la matière sèche de quatre fourrages tropicaux traités à l'ammoniac ou à l'urée

National audienc

Comparative analysis of village chicken production in two farming systems in Burkino Faso

This study aimed to describe and compare village chicken production in two farming systems in Burkina Faso. The systems were those in which crops and livestock production were, respectively, the most important. A rapid rural appraisal preceded a monitoring study in which data were collected fortnightly for 2 months. The study revealed that village chickens are used as sacrifices, gifts and objects of exchange for traditional medicine, or are sold for a little money under both systems. Chicken production is a free-range procedure in both farming systems, but there are differences in management. On average, the flock size was 33.5 +/- 3 birds, of which 57% were chicks. During the period of 2 months in the rainy season, the overall mortality was relatively low (8.8% +/- 1.5) but mortality in chicks was high (31.7%). The main cause of financial loss in the village chickens was mortality, which represented up to 84% of the total exits. The hatching rate and mortality in young chicks differed significantly (p <0.05) between the two farming systems