Authors:
Abegunde, T. O., Odedire, J. A., Akande, C. O.,
Omoleke, R. T. and Adebayo, M. A. |
Abstract:
Scarcity of feed resources for ruminant animals during the dry season is a serious challenge in
developing countries. However huge quantities of unwanted farm wastes such as dried banana
leaves are either burnt, disposed or left to rot on the farm on a yearly basis. The potential of dried
banana leaves ensiled with cassava peels and urea as feed for ruminant animals was thus
investigated.
Dried banana leaves ensiled with varying levels of cassava peels (0, 10, 20 and 30 %) to make
dietary treatments (T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively), were assessed for its chemical, anti-nutrients
and organic acids contents. Feeds were offered to twelve West African Dwarf (WAD) sheep to
assess the acceptability of the silage in a cafeteria experiment. Proximate analysis of the four
(silage) diets showed that it contained 95.90 - 97.20 % dry matter (DM), 8.05 - 11.3 % crude
protein (CP), 31.95 - 36.55 % crude fibre (CF), 6.95 - 11.10 % ether extract (EE), 7.25 - 11.05
% ash content, 35.43 -38.80 % Nitrogen Free Extract (NFE). There was no significant difference
(P>0.05) in the NFE fractions across the dietary treatments. Crude fibre reduced (P<0.05) with
increasing levels of the cassava peels. The dietary treatment significantly (P<0.05) affected the
tannin content and other antinutrient components, except for saponin, as they reduce with
increasing level of cassava peels in the diet. Acetic acid and propionic acid contents were not
significantly (P<0.05) affected by silage composition. Lactic acid contents of T2 and T3 were
higher (P>0.05) than T1 and T4. Physical attributes of silage diets were adjudged to be adequate,
based on the colour, temperature, pH and smell. The order of preference of silage diets by WAD
sheep is: T4 > T2 > T3 > T1. Dried banana leaves ensiled with cassava peels and urea holds potential as silage feed for ruminants showing better quality and acceptability by WAD sheep as
cassava peel increased in the diets. |
