ASSESSMENT OF NUTRITIONAL POTENTIAL OF SOME MIXED NON-CONVENTIONAL FEED RESOURCES IN ALIERO LGA, KEBBI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Use of conventional feedstuff is unavailable, scarce and the price is high for profitable livestock production in Nigeria. Thus an experiment was conducted to evaluate the nutritional potential of millet panicle husk mixed with molasses solution and different levels of poultry dung. Millet panicle husks were measured using a weighing balance and prepared in to four different samples (A, B, C and D) each weighing 100g. A solution of molasses (70cL) was prepared with water (30cL) and mixed with the samples except with sample A (control). Thereafter, dried poultry dung was mixed to each four sample of millet panicle husk at; 0%, 20%, 30% and 40% to make a ratio; 100:00, 80:20, 70:30 and 60:40 designated as treatments; A, B, C and D. Samples were replicated three times in a completely randomized design and oven dried at 650C for 48 hours and were taken to the laboratory for proximate analysis. Treatment of millet panicle husk with molasses and varying levels of poultry dung improved (p<0.05) proximate composition of mixture with exception of ADF. Treatment D had higher CP, ash and NCF (19.25%, 11.00% and 43.65%) respectively and lower CF (21.54%), ADF (33.20%) and ADL (9.09%) were obtained in treatment C. Results suggested that mixture of molasses solution and poultry dung with millet panicle improved feeding value of millet panicle husk which may serves as ruminant feed during forage scarcity.