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Utilization of stover from six improved dual-purpose Groundnut(arachis hypogaea l.) Cultivars by West African dwarf sheep
Abstract
detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL) and metabolisable energy (ME) contents were similar while, cultivar RMP-12 recorded the highest (P < 0.05) hemicellulose (64 g/kg DM and cellulose (396 g/kg DM) contents. Organic matter (58.1 to 71.9 g/kg metabolic weight (W0.75)/d) and NDF (32 to 41 g/kg W0.75/d) intake were significantly different (P < 0.05). The digestibility of DM (508 to 623 g/kg DM), OM (498 to 626 g/kg DM) and CP (488 to 588 g/kg DM)
differed (P < 0.05). Similarly, NDF digestibility (488 to 635 g/kg DM) and ADF digestibility (406 to 572 g/kg DM) were significantly different (P < 0.05). Nitrogen balance (3.0±0.98 g/d) was similar (P > 0.05) among cultivars, whereas available protein ranged (P < 0.05) from 2.5 g d-1 for RMP-12 to 29.0 g d-1 for M170-80I. Liveweight changes (LWC) varied between 6 g/d weight loss by sheep on UGA-2 fodder and 46 g/d in M170-80I. Soluble fraction (a) differed significantly (P < 0.05)
ranging between 197 and 351 g/kg DM, while degradable fraction (b) and rate of degradation of b (c) were not significantly different. The 48-h degradation (501 to 596 g/kg DM), potential degradability; PD (584 to 687 g/kg DM) and effective degradability; ED (415 to 489 g/kg DM) varied (P < 0.05). Groundnut stover could be fed as sole diets or supplements to WAD sheep, and the cultivars ranked in decreasing order of stover quality as: M170-80I > UGA-5 > M572-80I = UGA-2 > 50 RMP-12 > M554-76. While sole-feeding groundnut has been illustrated to result in improved
weight gain in WAD sheep, it might also be economical to use the fodder as a supplement.