540 Acceptability of Spondia mombin Linn Leaves by West African dwarf (WAD) sheep in Ijebu-Ode local government, Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

Evaluation of nutrient composition of browse forage under utilized as fodder by ruminants was carried out at the Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun. Ijebu-Ode. Ogun State. Nigeria. The objective of this work was to study the preference of different leaves (green, yellow and brown) of Spondia mombin by West African Dwarf Sheep (WAD). Eight female WAD sheep weighing 10 to 12 kg between the ages of nine months to one year were used in a fourteen day cafetaria feeding to assess the animals' preference profile for the green, yellow and brown leaves of Spondia mombin. During the fourteen day preference study, each of the forage (green, yellow and brown laeves) were served in separate container to allow each animal to have free access to each forage. The position of each container was changed every day to prevent animal's adaptation to a particular type of forage. The value of the Coefficient of preference (COP) for each leaf was calculated from the ratio between the intakes of each individual forage divided by the average intake of the forage. The result revealed that the value of COP of different leaf ranged from 1.85 – 2.05 in brown and green leaves respectively. The green leaf was mostly preferred. Samples from the feed refusal were taken to the laboratory to determine the chemical composition of green, yellow and brown leaves of Spondia mombin. Data generated were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and means were separated using Duncan's Multiple Range Test. Significance was accepted at 0.05 level of probability. The result showed that dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), Ash, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber differed significantly (P < 0.5) among the green, yellow and brown leaves. The highest value (90.22%) of Dry matter was recorded for the brown leaf, while the lowest value (85.05%) was recorded for the green leaf. The Crude protein ranged from 9.59 – 11.25% in brown and green leaves respectively, the green leaf had the lowest value (8.25%) of Ash, while the highest value (10.00%) was obtained in the brown leaf. Same trend was observed in EE, ADF and NDF. The Neutral detergent fiber ranged from 46.48-62.01% in green and brown leaves respectively. It can be concluded that Spondia mombin green, yellow and brown leaves has potential as forage in animal nutrition in this region as all leaf form were acceptable to the animals