GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF RED SOKOTO BUCKS FED WOOLY FINGER GRASS (Digitaria smutsii) HAY-BASED DIET WITH VARYING LEVELS OF SUN-DRIED BROILERLITTER
GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF RED SOKOTO BUCKS FED WOOLY FINGER GRASS (Digitaria smutsii) HAY-BASED DIET WITH VARYING LEVELS OF SUN-DRIED BROILERLITTER
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Date
2016-12
Authors
TERKULA, AFELE
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Abstract
This study was conducted to evaluate growth performance of Red Sokoto bucks fed
Digitaria smutsii hay-based diet with varying levels of sun-dried broiler litter (SBL). A
total of 20 Red Sokoto bucks aged 12-14 months and weighing on average 11.5±0.5kg
were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments with 5 replicates each in a complete
randomized design. The diets contained 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30% SBL levels, each
representing a treatment. The animals were fed at 4% body weight throughout the
period of 90 days. Total feed intake, weight gain, faecal and urine output, rumen pH,
total volatile fatty acid (TVFA), rumen ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) as well as serum
metabolites were recorded. Results obtained showed significant (P<0.05) decrease in
Dry matter intake (394.68–325.44g/day) and weight gain (54.17 - 29.63g/day) on diets
with SBL inclusion. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) significantly (P<0.05) increased
across the treatments (7.74 - 11.33) as SBL levels increased in the diets. Nutrient
digestibility varied (P<0.05) significantly across the treatments with exception of DM.
The digestibility of CP, CF, ADF and ME were significantly (P<0.05) higher in diets
with SBL compared to the control. Nitrogen intake (11.32 - 8.81g/day) and Nitrogen
balance (5.99 - 4.01g/day) decreased (P<0.05) significantly across the treatments with
increasing levels of SBL inclusion but Nitrogen retention (57.14 – 45.52%) was better
in bucks on diet with 10%SBL inclusion compared to the other groups. Rumen pH
differed significantly (P<0.05) among the groups but were within acceptable range
(6.0-7.0) for rumen fermentation. Rumen Ammonia (20.83–27.25mg/100ml) were
significantly (P<0.05) higher in animals on diet with SBL compared to control diets
and were higher (14.08–36.42mg/100ml) at 8 hours post feeding. Similarly, TVFA
were significantly (P<0.05) higher at 8 hours post feeding (28.67– 45.08mmol/l) but
decreased (37.25-32.33mmol/l) at 30% SBL inclusion. Serum metabolites varied
significantly (P<0.05) across the treatments but all fell within the acceptable range for
healthy goats. Feed cost per kilogram decreased with increasing levels of SBL in the
diets (N 61.40 – N 42.55). Feed cost (N) per kilogram gain was significantly (P<0.05)
higher in diet with 30% SBL (475.89 – 442.76) compared to the other diets. Although
animals on the control diet showed some level of performance over those on SBL diets,
the cost of the control diet would obviously hinder farmers in utilizing it. It was
therefore concluded from this trial, that SBL used in the formulation of diets for Red
Sokoto bucks can be included in the diets for growing goats up to 10%.
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE
STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA IN
PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE
AWARD OF MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN ANIMAL
SCIENCE
DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL SCIENCE,
FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY,
ZARIA, NIGERIA.
Keywords
GROWTH PERFORMANCE, RED SOKOTO BUCKS FED WOOLY FINGER GRASS (Digitaria smutsii), HAY-BASED DIET, VARYING LEVELS OF SUN-DRIED BROILERLITTER