EFFECT OF FEEDING FORAGES FORTIFIED WITH CONCENTRATE AND MILKING TIME ON SOME NUTRITIONAL COMPOSITION OF WEST AFRICAN DWARF EWES' COLOSTRUM

Abstract

The effects of feeding forages fortified with concentrate diet and milking time on some nutritional composition of West African Dwarf (WAD) ewes colostrum was investigated. 19 WAD ewes of weight between 18 and 20kg were procured and pregnancies synchronized with prostaglandin were used for this study. The pregnant ewes were randomly allotted to 5 feeding regimes'. thus: TO Pregnant ewes on permanent grazing of Panicum maximum + Gliricidia sepium; Tl = Pregnant ewes on zero grazing of Panicum maximum Gliricidia sepium + concentrate at first trimester; T2 =Pregnant ewes on zero grazing Panicum maximum Gliricidia Sepium + concentrate at first trimester; T3 = Pregnant ewes on zero grazing of Panicum maximum + Gliricidia sepium + concentrate at third trimester T4 = Pregnant ewes on zero grazing of Panicum maximum + Gliricidia Sepium + Concentrate at third trimester. The animals on Tl — T4 were fed forages at 8am and concentrate at 4pm and the left over recorded. Data were collected on colostrums milked per animal at interval of 2, 12, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours and refrigerated at and analysed in the laboratory with analysis of variance (ANOVA) and statistical analysis was carried out for a completely randomized design at P < 0.05. The results showed that lactose, fat and minerals (Ash) in the pregnant ewes increased in those fed fortified forages and were higher (P < 0.05) in ewes at third trimester than in first hand second trimester pregnancy. It was also observed that lactose, fat and ash reduced as the time of milking increased from 2 hours to 72 hours with colostrum milked at 2 hrs having higher (P< 0.05) values of the nutrients evaluated. It was recommended that forages should be fortified for pregnant ewes especially at third trimester and that lambs should be introduced to colostrums immediately after lambing for higher nutrients.