Silage Quality and Preference of Centrosema Leaf Ensiled With Different Levels of Cassava Peels by Goats

Abstract

In this study, Centrosema pubescens leaf (CL) was ensiled with different proportions of cassava peel (CP). Physical characteristics, chemical characteristics and proximate composition of the silage mixtures were determined while preference of West African Dwarf goats for the mixtures was determined using five bucks. Treatments consisted of the following CL-CP mixtures; 70: 30, 60:40, 50:50, 40:60 and 30:70. All the silage types formed good silage and silage acidity increased from 4.4 to 3.95 while colour varied from pale to light green as the proportion of cassava peel in the silage mixtures increased. All silages had a firm texture with pleasant and slightly alcoholic and fruity smell. Dry matter and nitrogen free extract of silage increased as the proportion of cassava peel in the mixtures increased while crude protein and crude fibre (CF) reduced. DM, crude protein and CF varied from 24.84 to 31.31%, 8.50 -19.24% and 11.17 – 13.85%, respectively. The preference by goats was 53.57, 66.67, 80.35,96.43 and100% for 70:30, 30:70, 60:40, 40:60 and 50:50 CL-CP silage mixture, respectively. These results indicate that addition of cassava peel to Centrosema leaf enhanced the silage characteristics and acceptability of centrosema leaf silage by goats.