RUMEN METABOLISM AND ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF RED SOKOTO BUCKS FED VARYING INCLUSION LEVELS OF WYNN CASSIA (Chamaecrista rotundifolia) MEAL DIET

Abstract

An experiment was carried out to investigate the rumen metabolism and economic analysis of Red Sokoto bucks fed varying inclusion levels of Chamaecrista rotundifolia (CR) meal diet. The experiment consisted of 12 Red Sokoto bucks which were balanced for weight and assigned to four dietary treatments containing varying inclusion levels of CR meal (0, 25, 50 and 75%). The bucks were individually pen-fed with the experiment diets at 3% body weight with three bucks per treatment in a Complete Randomize Design for a period of 90 days. Results of this experiment showed that, there was no significant difference (P>0.05) in rumen pH across all the treatment groups. There was a significant decrease (P<0.05) in the total volatile fatty acids (TVFAs) in bucks fed control diet compared to those fed 75% CR inclusion level (12.68 vs. 14.32 mmol/L). Also, there was a significant increase (P<0.05) in ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) with 25% CR inclusion level compared to with 75% CR inclusion level (29.01 vs. 26.76 mg/100ml). However, there is a decrease in the cost of feed/kg gain at 75% inclusion level compared to the control group (N190.60 vs. N942.38). It was hence, revealed from this study that farmers under smallholder production system could include CR meal up to 75% in the diet of Red Sokoto bucks for better performance and reduction in the cost of production without any detrimental effect on rumen metabolites of the animals. Thereby, increasing profit and betters the living standard of farmers in Nigeria.