Rumen Metabolites and Microbial Load in Fattening Yankasa Rams Fed Urea and Lime Treated Groundnut (Arachis Hypogeae) Shell in a Complete Diet

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The study was conducted to determine effect of treated groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) shell in a complete diet on blood metabolites and microbial load in fattening Yankasa rams. Each kilogram of groundnut shell was treated with 5% urea and 5% lime for treatments 2 (UTGNS) and 3 (LTGNS) respectively. For treatment 4 (ULTGNS), 1 kg of groundnut shell was treated with 2.5% urea and 2.5% lime, but shell in treatment 1 was not treated (UNTGNS). Sixteen Yankasa rams were used and randomly assigned to the four treatments diets with four animals per treatment in a completely randomized design (CRD). The diet was formulated to have 14% crude protein (CP) content. Rumen fluid was collected from each ram at the end of the experiment at 0 and 4 hours post feeding. The samples were then put in a 30 ml bottle and acidified with 5 drops of concentrated sulphuric (0.1N H2SO4) acid to trap ammonia. The results of the blood metabolites showed that the mean values of NH3-N differed significantly (P<0.05) among the treatment groups with rams in ULTGNS diet having the highest significant value (31.96 mg/L). TVFs were significantly (P<0.05) higher in rams fed UNTGNS diet, and higher in total nitrogen, Effect of sampling periods revealed that NH3N, TVFs and TP were significantly (P<0.05) higher in rumen fluid collected 4hrs post feeding among the rams across the treatment groups, but rumen fluid pH was significantly (p<0.05) higher in 0 hour post feeding in all the rams in the treatment diets. In the treatment and sampling period’s interaction effects, animals on ULTGNS diet had the highest mean values of NH3N in both 0 and 4 hours post feeding and were significantly (P<0.5) higher compared to rams on the other treatment diets. Rams on UTGNS diet had the highest bacteria load of 4.96X105/ml which was significant (P<0.05). However, protozoa counts were significantly (P<0.05) higher in rams fed UTGNS diet then followed by ULTGNS diet. The results showed that there was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the bacteria count of the animals at both 0 and 4 hours post feeding. But rumen fungi and protozoa load at 0 hour were significantly (P<0.05) higher than at 4 hours post feeding. The use of untreated ground groundnut shell in the diet of fattening Yankasa ram was therefore recommended.