PERFORMANCE OF RED SOKOTO BUCKS FED TWO CULTIVARS OF SWEET POTATO VINES AND COWPEA HAY

Abstract

Forages and crop residues are the main feed resources which are noted to be low in crude protein occasioned by seasonal fluctuations in climatic factors required for quality forage production. Thus, this study was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding two cultivars of sweet potato vines (Danchina and King J) and Cowpea hay (serving as control diet) on the nutrients intake and digestibility of Red Sokoto bucks. Twelve bucks were assigned into three dietary treatments: CH (Cowpea hay), DC (Danchina) and KJ (King J) in a randomized complete block design with four animals per treatments. The result obtained indicated that bucks from the treatment fed King J sweet potato vine cultivars had higher feed intake (988.66g/day) followed by Danchina (906.66g/day) and the least were the Cowpea hay (883.33g/day). There was no significant (P>0.05) difference was observed with respect to nutrients intake. Likewise result of nutrients digestibility showed no significant differences (P>0.05) among the treatments. It is concluded that Danchina and King J
sweet potato vine cultivars can be fed to animals as a replacement for cowpea hay since they were proven to be nutritionally good for enhanced performance of the experimental animals.