EFFECT OF PELLET MILL AND BINDER ON QUALITY AND ACCEPTABILITY OF CASSAVA-GLIRICIDIA PELLETS FED TO ZEBU COWS

Abstract

The challenge of inadequate nutrition and inability to meet the energy-protein requirement of cattle especially during the dry season has limited their productivity. In Nigeria, Cassava and Gliricidia are valuable feed resources that can fill the gap in feed supply if adequately harnessed, and this is dependent on methods of processing and preservation. This could be through pelleting of feedstuffs. This study was carried out to assess the effect of pellet mill and binder on quality characteristics of Cassava-Gliricidia pellets and its acceptability by cattle. Two flat die pellet mills (vertical and horizontal designs) at 2 levels of starch inclusion (0 and 5%) were adopted for the pellet feed production. Four Zebu cows were used for the preference assessment in a cafeteria study which lasted for 30min daily and a total period of eight days. The effect of pellet mill and starch level was significant on the assessed quality parameters. The crude protein content of pellets ranged from 17.65 to 19.45%. Physical quality was measured in terms of durability. Pellet Durability Index values show that pellets compressed by vertical design flat die mill with 5% starch are the most durable. Pellet preference considered in terms of intake rate showed that Zebu cows preferred Cassava-Gliricidia pellets compressed by vertical design flat die mill without starch (0%) to other pellets used in this study. It is concluded that cassava root meal and gliricidia leaves possess the potential of solving the problem of limiting feed resources of ruminant animals in Nigeria.