EFFECT OFENSILED OR UNENSILED MAIZE COBTREATED WITH NON-PROTEIN NITROGEN AND SOYBEAN MEAL ONGROWTH OF YANKASA SHEEP

Abstract

A feeding trial which lasted twelve (12) weeks was carried out to determine the growth performance of growing Yankasa rams fed ensiled and unensiled maize cob treated with non-protein nitrogen sources and Soybean meal. Twenty four (24) Yankasa rams with average weight (11 kg) and aged between 5 to 8 months were randomly allocated to six treatments of four replicates in a Randomized Complete Block Design. The experiment diets were formulated and designated as Treatment A1 (ESBM) : Ensiled Maize cob + Soybean , Treatment B1: (EPL Ensiled Maize cob + Poultry Litter), Treatment C1 (EU): Ensiled Maize cob+ Urea , Treatment A2 (USBM) Unensiled Maize cob + Soybean, Treatment B2 (UPL):(Unensiled Maize cob + Poultry Litter , and Treatment C2 (UU: Unensiled Maize cob+ Urea ).The result showed that average daily weight gain (84.72g) in treatment with poultry litter ensiled maize cob was significantly (P<0.05) higher than 66.67g in ensiled urea, 65.27g in unensiled soybean meal and 65.27g in unensiled urea, It was concluded tha tusing maize cob treated with poultry litter, urea and soybean meal ensiled and unensiled enhance crude protein content and reduction of fibre fractions of maize cob. Also improvement of the growthperformance of growing Yankasa rams was achieved. poultry litter ensiled maize cob treatment had better performance.It was recommended, that urea, poultry litter and soybean meal could be used to improve the quality of maize cob to alleviate dry season fed shortage and cost of feeding small ruminants.Treatment of maize cob improved the performance of growing Yankasa rams.