Performance and nutrient digestibility of West African Dwarf rams fed Panicum maximum and Tridax procumbens supplemented with Cajanus cajan leaves

Abstract

An experiment was carried out to investigate the performance and nutrient digestibility of^­Wcst African dwarf growing rams*/ mixture of Panicum maximum and Tridax procumbens supplemented with Cajanus cajan leaves for 56 days feeding trial. A total of twelve WAD rams were randomly allocated to three treatments with four animals per treatment while two animals served as replicate. The experimental diet was fed at 3% body weight of individual animals while Cajanus cajan leaves were supplemented at varied inclusion levels. The results revealed that animals led T, recorded the least weight gain* (36.96g/day) while the highest weight gain (56.42g/day) was recorded for T_­3 The daily weight gain of animals wa.s^. significantly different across all treatments (P<0. 05). The highest DMI (18.30kg) was recorded on the T₁, and the least value of DM1(17,40kg) was recorded in T₃. The highest led efficiency ratio (0.18) and the lowest value (0.11) were observed in animals fed T, and T, diet respectively. There were significant differences (P<0.05) in the nutrient digestibility parameters of the experimental animals. The results showed that T₁(100% sole Cajanus cajan leaves) promoted the best thy matter (DM) digestibility (89.56%) which was enough to meet the production and maintenance requirement of small ruminants while the lowest value (88.67%) of DMD was recorded in T₂. The highest crude protein (CP) digestibility (13.20%) was observed in T, diet. The highest value for crude, fibre digestibility (38.95%) and the lowest value (35.35%) were observed in animals_. T, and 'l_itho` respectively. In conclusion, supplementation of Cajanus cajan1 leaves with mixture of^-Tridar procumbens and Punicum maximum as basal diet for feeding sheep enhanced nutrient intake, growth performance and improved nutrient digestibility without health challenges to the animals