PERFORMANCE OF YANKASA SHEEP FED Panicum maximum SUBSTITUTED WITH VARYING LEVELS OF Gmelina arborea FORAGE

Abstract

A study that involved fifteen (15) Yankasa sheep aged 2-3 years and weighed 9.24 ± 0.15Wkg75 were used to assess the nutritive value of Panicum maximum substituted with varying levels of Gmelina. arborea forage. The experiment was conducted at the Teaching and Research farm, Federal University of Technology, Akure. Five diets were formulated as follow: 100% Panicum maximum (A), 75% Panicum maximum + 25% Gmelina arborea (B), 50% Panicum maximum + 50% Gmelina arborea (C), 25% Panicum maximum + 75% Gmelina arborea (D), 100% Gmelina arborea (E).The fifteen sheep were divided into five groups (three replicates per group) in a completely randomized design (CRD and fed the experimental diets for 63 days. Feed and water were provided ad libitum and routine vaccination and medication were administered. The parameters measured were nutrients intake, digestibility, weight gain, nitrogen retention and feed/gain ratio. Chemical composition revealed that crude protein (10.35-23.33%) and energy (15.69-16.69KJ/100gDM) contents were adequate to support the performance of the sheep. The crude fibre contents decreased with increased crude protein contents of the diets. The results showed that the daily dry matter intake increased with improved crude protein quality of the diets. There were significant (P<0.05) differences among the digestibility coefficients of sheep fed experimental diets. The sheep fed diet D had better and improved voluntary nutrients intake, daily liveweight gain and feed/gain ratio. Thus, the high nutrients values of Gmelina arborea leaves coupled with its palatability and acceptability to the sheep fed the diet that contained 75% Panicum maximum +25% Gmelina arborea forage could be a source of energy and protein to sustain ruminant production during the scarcity and dry season period.