ACCEPTABILITY RATINGS AND NUTRITIVE VALUE OF FOUR SELECTED FODDER SPECIES BY YANKASA SHEEP IN SUB-HUMID NIGERIA

Abstract

A study was conducted to estimate the dry matter intake of four selected forage species by Yankasa sheep so as to assess their nutritive value and preference by the animals. Four fodder tree species, viz; Gliricidia sepium, Gmelina arborea, Leucaena leucocephala, and Spondis purpurea were offered to 12 Yankasa sheep in a free choice cafeteria feeding method that lasted for 14 days to determine their intake and coefficient of preference (CoP). Data obtained from the experiment were subjected to a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Preference data were analysed as a complete randomized design using collection days as replicates and shrub species and animals as treatments. The fodder samples were chemically analysed. Results revealed that their chemical composition varied significantly (P<0.05). The DM, CP, CF, Ash, EE, and NFE ranged between 33.80-40.50%, 12.80- 26.41%, 12.80-14.20%, 9.10-11.11%, 11.03-15.21% and 29.90-55.31%, respectively. Significantly (P<0.05) higher mean daily fodder intake (2015.7 and 1820.4 gDM) were observed in L.
Leucocephala and G. arborea respectively, while the least (697.2 gDM) was observed in S. purpurea. The CoP of the fodder was best in L. leucocephala (1.53) and G. arborea which were the preferred species by the animals. The preference ranking in descending order was L. leucocephala > G. arborea > G. sepium > S. purpurea. It was concluded that L. leucocephala and G. arborea were the preferredamongst the selected fodder species, suggesting their potentials as feed supplements for sheep.