Digestibility and growth in West African dwarf sheep fed gliricidia – based multinutrient block supplements

Abstract

Sixty West African Dwarf (WAD) rams aged between 7 – 10 months and mean Body Weight of 12.6kg (range 9.3 – 14.5kg) were used to study the influence of Gliricidia – based multinutrient blocks (MNBs) as supplement to Panicum maximum and cassava peel feed for 12 weeks. Gliricidia + Poultry manure (GPMNB), Gliricidia + Urea + Poultry manure (GUPMNB) and Gliricidia + Urea (GUMNB) and Panicum – cassava peel (control) were analyzed for proximate composition, mineral content, gross energy and anti-nutritional factors. Mean weight gain of rams fed MNBs (1.4+0.4-2.0+0.9kg) was significantly higher than those fed the control diet (0.7+0.2kg). Rams fed control diet had the lowest feed conversion ratio (50.6+0.2) while rams fed GUMNB, GPMNB and GUPMNB supplements had 20.6+0.1, 21.3+1.2, 26.6+0.4. The dry matter intake of rams fed MNBs (1573.33+2.1 – 1584.67+2.9g day -1 ) was significantly (P<0.05) higher than (1102.00+9.6g day -1 ) in the control diets . Daily average gain of 28.6+0.0, 47.6+1.6, 57.1 + 0.0g for GUPMNB, GPMNB and GUMNB respectively were higher than in the control diet (9.5 + 4.2g). Nitrogen balance values for sheep on treatments GUMNB , GUPNMB and GPMNB were significantly (P<0.05) higher than in the control diet. The coefficient digestibility of DM , CP , CF , EE , NFE of the rams in the control ration were consistently lower (P<0.05) than those fed the MNBs supplemented ration. The body length gains of rams fed MNBs (15.75+3.5cm – 25.0 + 0.7cm) were significantly (P<0.05) higher than those rams fed the control diet (9.6+1.2cm). It was concluded that Gliricidia – based multinutrient block supplements could be fed with Panicum – cassava peels to improve feed intake, nutrient digestibility and nitrogen utilization leading to a better performance of sheep.