COMPARATIVE FEEDING VALUE OF CYNODON DACTYLON AND DIGITARIA SMUTSII FORAGES SUPPLEMENTED WITH CONCENTRATE FOR WEANED FEMALE YANKASA LAMBS

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Date
2007-10
Authors
BUKAR, HASSAN FATIMAH
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Abstract
The study was conducted to compare the feeding values of Cynodon dactylon or Digitaria smutsii as basal diet on growth and some blood metabolites in weaned female Yankasa lambs. Twenty weaned female Yankasa lambs with an average body weight of 10± 2kg were randomly assigned to four treatments with five lambs per treatment in a randomized complete block design. They were fed with either Cynodon dactylon (treatments A and B) or Digitaria smutsii (treatments C and D) ad labium. Animals in treatments A and C were supplemented at 1.0% of body weight (BW) while those in treatments B and D were supplemented at 1.5% BW. The concentrate was a mixture of maize (75.2%), cottonseed cake (23.8%), common salt (0.5%), and bone meal (0.5%). The chemical composition of the feed ingredients showed that Digitaria smutsii comprised DM 97; Ash 7.3; EE 4.1; CP 6.3: NDF 73 and ADF 46%. Cynodon dactylon on the other hand had a composition of; DM 97.1; Ash 7.2; EE 3.5; CP 6.1; NDF 76.4 and ADF 47.0%. The concentrate had a composition of DM 98; Ash 19.4; EE 5.2; CP 18.8; NDF 34.1 and ADF 25.0%. The result showed that there was no difference in the nutrient content of Digitaria and Cynodon, but the analysis of concentrate revealed a higher level of crude protein and lower levels of neutral and acid detergent fibers. The forage intake was higher in Digitaria but not significantly (P>0.05) different from Cynodon. There was an increase in concentrate intake as the level of supplementation increased. The same trend was observed with the total intake. Supplementation at 1.5% gave higher (P>0.05) total intake than at 1.0% supplementation. Daily weight gain was higher (P>0.05) with Cynodon supplemented at 1.5% BW than with Digitaria supplemented at 1.5% BW. Cynodon supplemented at 1.5% BW was found to be the most efficient and was significantly (P<0.05) different from Digitaria supplemented at 1.5% BW. The digestibility result also showed no differences between the two forages. Supplementation was found to increase the level of blood protein, albumin, and globulin. It was concluded from the study that Cynodon dactylon is a good forage substitute for Digitaria smutsii at a high supplementation level of 1.5%. It is hence recommended as good forage for small ruminants. This is because it has almost the same chemical composition as Digitaria smutsii, hence almost the same nutritive values. Also the body weight gain was higher for animals on Cynodon than Digitaria at the same level of supplementation. It is therefore recommended that Cynodon dactylon which is a native pasture available as weed in all the ecological zones of the country can be effectively produced and used as forage for small ruminant production.
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A Thesis Submitted to the Postgraduate School, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of Masters Degree Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Keywords
COMPARATIVE,, FEEDING,, VALUE,, CYNODON,, DACTYLON,, DIGITARIA,, SMUTSII,, FORAGES,, SUPPLEMENTED,, CONCENTRATE,, WEANED FEMALE,, YANKASA LAMBS
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