Silage prepared from wilted cassava leaves were fed to West African Dwarf (WAD) goats as supplement to Guinea
grass (Panicum maximum) based diets to determine the effects on dry matter (DM) intake, digestibility of nutrients
and nitrogen balance of the animals. Twenty four WAD goats were randomly assigned in group of 6 to four experimental
diets. Diet I, which was the control contained 100% Panicum maximum (PM), diet II contained 80% PM + 20%
cassava leaf silage (CLS) while diets 3 and 4 contained 60% PM + 40% CLS and 40% PM + 60% CLS, respectively.
Treatment effect on DM intake was not significant (p>0.05). The digestibility of dry matter and most of the nutrients
was significantly influenced (p<0.05) by the cassava leaf silage (CLS). Dry matter digestibility increased with increased
level of cassava leaf silage to 40%. Diets 1 through 3 were not significantly different in crude protein digestibility
(CPD), while diet 4 was significantly different (p<0.05) from the other diets in terms of CPD. Both the nitrogen
balance and nitrogen retention were significantly influenced (p<0.05) by the treatments.
PAPER TITLE :EFFECTS OF SUPPLEMENTATION OF GUINEA GRASS WITH CASSAVA LEAF SILAGE ON FEED INTAKE, DIGESTIBILITY AN
APPLIED TROPICAL AGRICULTURE | VOLUME 15 NUMBER 1 2010
Paper Details
- Author(s) : I. E. OLUWADAMILARE AND O. OLOWOFESO
- Abstract:
