Effect of feeding diets containing levels of ginger (<i>Zingiber officinale</i>) on digestibility and nitrogen balance of red Sokoto bucks

Abstract

The apparent digestibility and nitrogen balance of nutrients in isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets containing 0, 250, 500 and 750 g ginger inclusion levels was studied in a 14-day trial involving twenty (20) red Sokoto bucks (RSB) weighing on the average 17.86 kg. The treatments were replicated five times in a completely randomized design. The animals were individually fed at 4% of their body weight for both the concentrate (1.5% as supplement) and Digitaria smutsii hay (2.5% as basal diet). The trial consisted of 7-day adjustment period followed by a 7-day total collection of faeces and urine. Nutrient digestibility, faecal and urine outputs were recorded. Results indicated a similar dry matter intake across the treatments. Crude protein and crude fiber intakes were significantly (P<0.05) affected by ginger inclusion levels with higher values recorded in the group fed 250 g. Dry matter digestibility significantly (P<0.05) increased with increase in ginger levels. Nitrogen retention was significantly (P<0.05) higher in bucks fed with 750 g ginger. It was therefore concluded that, varying inclusion levels of ginger improved nutrient digestibility and nitrogen retention of RSB. RSB can be fed up to 750 g/100 kg diet ginger.