Abstract
A study of In vivo digestibility of <i>Brachiaria deflexa</i> and <i>Echinocloa colona </i>fed<i> </i>Sahelian bucks supplemented with 30% cowpea haulms was conducted in the Scientific Garden of the University of Sciences and Technology of Ati in Chad by September 2018. Twelve (12) Sahelian bucks weighing around 28. 62 ±2. 97 kg, aged between 20 and 24 months were used for this feeding trial. Four (4) groups of three (3) animals were housed in individual metabolic cages, where they were treated with Oxytetracycline 20% long-acting (1ml/10 kg) and 1% of Ivermectin against gastrointestinal and pulmonary worms before trials. Four rations were made and distributed hazardly to each group as follows: <i>Brachiaria deflexa</i> without supplement of cowpea haulms (BF<sub>0</sub>), <i>Brachiaria deflexa</i> suplemented with 30% cowpea haulms (BF<sub>30</sub>), <i>Echinocloa colona</i> without suplement (EF<sub>0</sub>) and <i>Echinocloa colona</i> suplmented with 30% cowpea haulms (EF<sub>30</sub>). Each animal received 1000g of feeds twice a day for basal feeds during the adaptation period (14 days). After this period, data were collected for seven (7) days. The result shows that <i>Echinocloa</i> <i>colona</i> supplemented with 30% cowpea haulm induced a significant (p<0.05) intake of DM (697.2g), OM (525.14g), and CF (214.35g) in Sahelian bucks. While, digestive utilization of these elements was comparable (p> 0.05). Though, digestive utilization of nitrogen (58.68g) was significantly (P<0.05) high in bucks. Biochemically, blood concentration with protein elements (protein, albumin, and globulin) was similar in bucks fed <i>Brachiaria deflexa </i>or<i> Echinocloa colona </i>alone or associated with 30% cowpea haulms. As such, bucks could be fed with dried forage without cowpea supplements to minimize production costs.
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