PERFORMANCE, NUTRIENTS INTAKE AND DIGESTIBILITY OF UDA RAMS FED GRADED LEVELS OF (BAUHINIA MONANDRA) SEED MEAL IN DIETS

Résumé

This study was conducted to determine the response of growing Uda rams fed graded levels of Bauhinia monandra seed meal (BMSM) in diets. Diets containing 16% crude protein (CP) were formulated for the experiment, having 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% graded levels of BMSM with cotton seed cake (CSC), incorporated in the diets. Fifteen growing uda rams averaging ±10.9kg were randomly assigned to completely randomized design (CRD), three replications. The animals were fed the experimental diets and clean water daily ad-libitum. The results showed significant (p<0.05) difference in average daily feed intake (ADFI). Diet 3 i.e. 10% inclusion level had the highest mean value of 1.21kg, followed by diets 1, 4 and 5 both with same values 1.19kg, while diet 2 had the lowest mean of 1.18kg. Weight gain and average daily weight gain were significantly (p<0.05) affected. Higher mean values were recorded for higher levels of inclusion from 0% -20% (3.90 to 5.62) kg and (55.71 to 81.00) g/day respectively. Feed conversion ratio were significantly (p<0.001) affected. Animals fed diets 4 and 5, had better feed conversion ratio of 15.81 and 14.71 than diet 1, 2 and 3 (21.41, 20.80 and 17.08). Dry matter intake as percentage body weight (DMI % BW) was significant (p<0.05). Diets 4 and 5 had higher mean values of 1119.99g/d and 1111.46g/d than 2 and 3 with 1092.68g/d and 1089.00g/d respectively. However, there is no significant difference in all the nutrients intake parameters except for DMI as % BW. Dry matter digestibility (DMD) was significantly (p<0.05) affected. Higher mean values were observed across the treatments, with diet 4 as superior (66.13%), diets 3 and 4 same (60.31% and 61.46%) and diets 1 and 2 with lowest mean values (55.95% and 52.99%). Organic matter (OM) and crude protein (CP) digestibility followed same trend with DMD. With 73.55% and 69.50% as the highest values respectively. Neutral detergent fiber digestibility (NDFD) were significantly (p<0.05) affected, 0% and 15% were the same with higher values (66.00%, 64.50%). Acid detergent fiber digestibility (ADFD) was found to progressively increase as the inclusion levels increased from 0%-20% (57.50% to 66.00%). Inclusion of BMSM at graded levels of up to 20% in the diets of growing uda rams has no detrimental effect on growth performance, nutrients intake and digestibility. Diet 5 is therefore recommended for growing uda rams.