Authors:I.E. Oluwadamilare, O.Olowofeso
App. Trop. Agric. Vol. 15 Nos 1&2 PP 120-125, 2011
Abstract
Silage prepared from cassava leaves were fed to West African Dwarf (WAD) goats as supplement to Guinea grass (Panicum maximum) based diets to determine the effects on dry matter (DM) intake,
digestibility of nutrients and nitrogen balance of the animals. Twenty four WAD goats were randomly assigned in group of 6 to four WAD experimental diets Diet I, which was the the control contained 100% Panicum maximum (PM), diet II contained 80% PM – 20% cassava leaf silage (CLS) while diets 3 and 4 contained 60% PM + 40% CLS and 40% PM + 60% CLS, respectively. Treatment effect on DM intake was not significant (p>0. 05). The digestibility of dry maller and most of the nutrients was significantly influenced (p<0. 05) by the cassava leaf silage (CLS). Dry matter digestibility increased with increased level of cassava leaf silage 10 40% Diets I through 3 were not significantly different in crude protein digestibility (CPD). while diet was significantly different (p<0.05) from the other diets in terms of CPD. Both the nitrogen balance and nitrogen retention were significantly influenced (p<0.05) by the treatments.
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