PHYSICAL QUALITIES AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF ENHANCED ENSILED GUINEA GRASS-CASSAVA PEEL MIXTURE WITH CENTRO LEAVES AND DELONIX REGIA SEED MEAL FOR SUSTAINABLE RUMINANT PRODUCTION

Abstract

All year round feeding has been a challenge to sustainable ruminant production, ensiling grass with forage legumes, neglected seeds and crop waste are means of ameliorating the challenge. A study on physical qualities and chemical composition of enhanced ensiled guinea grass-cassava peel mixture with Centrosema pubescens leaves and Delonix regia seed meal was carried out. Four weeks regrowth Guinea grass (GGR), Centrosema pubescens (CEP), were harvested, wilted and chopped to 2-3 cm, cassava peel (CAP) and Delonix regia seed meal (DSM), mixed at different proportions (%) to have 5 experimental treatments: T1 = 100% GGR; T2 = 80% GGR + 10% CAP + 10% CEP; T3 = 80% GGR + 10% CAP + 10% DSM; T4 = 70% GGR + 10% CAP + 15% CEP + 5% DSM; T5 = 70% GGR + 10%CAP + 5% CEP + 15% DSM. Bamma bottles (960ml) were used as laboratory silos, ensiled for 60 days in completely randomize design (CRD). Physical qualities, temperature, pH, chemical compositions were examined. Results show perfect physical qualities across the experimental treatments, temperature and pH ranges from 27.60 – 28.400C, 4.00 – 4.80, respectively. There was significant difference (P<0.05) in all the chemical compositions except the dry matter (DM), nitrogen free extract (NFE), hemicellulose and cellulose across the experimental treatments. The CP was significantly higher (P<0.05) in T3 (15.56 %), while T1 had the least CP (9.83 %). The CF, EE, ash, ADF, NDF and ADL ranges from 24.66 – 31.23%, 3.14 – 3.68 %, 8.36 – 9.82 %, 42.13 – 49.35 %, 62.79 – 68.51% and 13.26 – 17.11 %, respectively. Conclusively, ensiling mixture of guinea grass-cassava peel with centro levees and Delonix regia seeds gives desirable physical qualities and chemical compositions. The T3 (80% Guinea Grass + 10% Cassava peel + 10% Delonix regia seed meal) is recommended.