Analysis of the Nutritional Content of Sugar cane Waste Ensiled with different levels of cowpea seed residue (Vigna unguiculata) for Animal Feeding in Adamawa State.

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to determine the nutritional composition of sugar cane peels and tops ensiled with different levels of cowpea seed residue. Four silo pits measuring 1m x 1m x 2m were used. The four silo pits were tag T1, T2, T3 and T4, treatment one (1) which is the control, contains only sugarcane peel and tops in a polythene bag and buried in the silo pit. The sugarcane waste was properly mix with the cowpea seed residue at inclusion level of 4kg, 8kg and 12kg respectively for T1, T2, T3 and T4, in a completely randomized design. The four diets were properly ensiled in the silo pits under anaerobic condition for 30 days. Data collected at the end of the experiment were temperature and the proximate composition of the feed samples. The result of the experiment showed a significant (<0.001) difference between all the treatment groups. Considering the result there is a high level in the nutrient level of the diets as the level of inclusion of cowpea seed residue increases. The highest level of inclusion which is the 12kg inclusion level contains the highest nutrient level. Farmers are advices to use 12kg of cowpea seed residue in every conventional bag of sugarcane waste for silage making in order to provide quality feed during the periods of feed shortages which usually coincide with sugarcane availability.