NUTRIENTS, ANTI-NUTRIENTS DIGESTIBILITY AND NITROGEN RETENTION BY WEST AFRICAN DWARF RAMS FED Panicum maximum SUBSTITUTED WITH Gliricidia sepium AND Acacia nilotica tomentosa

Abstract

A study that involved five (5) West African Dwarf (WAD) rams aged 2-3 years with an average live- weight of 24.40kg were used to evaluate the dietary value of Panicum maximum substituted with varying levels of Gliricidia sepium and Acacia nilotica tomentosa. The rams were housed individually in metabolic cage in a 5 x 5 Latin Square Design and the experiment lasted 70days. Five diets were formulated such that Panicum maximum was substituted with Acacia nilotica tomentosa and Gliricidia sepium forages as follows; 100% Panicum maximum (A), 100% Acacia nilotica tomentosa (B), 100% Gliricidia sepium (C), 50% Panicum maximum + 50% Acacia nilotica tomentosa (D) and 50% Panicum maximum +50% Gliricidia sepium (E) respectively. Diet B (100% Acacia nilotica tomentosa forage) had the highest recorded value of 21.06% CP and 18.60% CF. Nutrients, anti-nutrients digestibility and nitrogen retention were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by the treatments. The highest value of dry matter (232.43g/day) and crude fibre (43.21g/day) intake was observed in rams fed diet B. The crude protein were not significantly (P>0.05) influenced by the treatment. Though, the rams fed diet D had the best recorded crude protein (45.50g/day) compared to 40.59g/day observed in rams fed diet B. All the diets were adequately digested and utilized. Hence, the diets were palatable, acceptable and tolerable to the rams without a sign of ill-health. Rams fed diets B and C had the best nitrogen utilization of 2.21 and 2.62g/day. Thus, Acacia nilotica tomentosa could be a good source of protein and fibre that would enhance nutrient utilization by ruminants (especially rams) and promote preservation of the forage till dry season for ruminant' feeding.