NITROGEN BALANCE OF GROWING RED SOKOTO BUCKS FED HAY FROM Panicummaximum AND Digitaria smutsii CONCENTRATES AT DIFFERENT RATIOS

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding (50:50) Concentrate/Digitariasmutsii hay (C:D), 75:25 concentrate/Panicum maximum hay (C:P), (50:50) C:P and (25:75) C:P on the nitrogen balance of growing red Sokoto bucks for 7 days at the Teaching and Research farm, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Twelve bucks weighing 10.5±0.5kg were used with 3 replicate bucks/treatment in a CRD. The nitrogen retained as % intake was significantly higher (P<0.05) in bucks fed C:P mixture (75:25). It was therefore concluded from this study that 75% concentrate mixed with 25% Panicum maximumhay recorded a better result in terms of nitrogen balance