SILAGE QUALITY AND ACCEPTABILITY OF SAPONIN-INCLUDED UREA- AMMONIATED MAIZE STOVER BY GOAT

Abstract

Agricultural wastes are good opportunity for settling the problems of competition between humans and animals. Fortification with natural additives can help to improve their utilization. This study was conducted to evaluate silage quality and acceptability of maize stover treated with urea and saponin powder. Graded level of synthetic, Vernonia amygdalina saponin (0, 90, 135 and 180mg) and urea (3.6 and 7.2 g) dissolved in IL of water was mixed thoroughly with 1 Kg of chopped maize stover; ensiled for 14 days. The silage qualities, chemical composition and acceptability using Coefficient of Preference (COP) of silages by goat were determined. Data were analysed using descriptive analysis and analysis of variance at p=0.05 in a 2x4x3 factorial arrangement. The saponin type have interactive effect on dry matter (p=0.0058), crude protein (0.0134) and ash (0.0123) content of the silages. All the silages made shows characteristics of good silage. The crude protein (p=0.0366) content is also influenced by the interaction of the three factors; urea level, saponin type and saponin level. Also, 90, 135 and 180mg of Vernoniaamygdalina saponin-treated with 3.6g urea and synthetic saponin treated with 7.2 g urea included maize stover silages were acceptable having the CoP greater than unity.