Dry matter intake, nutrient digestibility and nitrogen balance of WAD sheep fed ensiled maize stover and concentrate supplement

Abstract

A study on effect of ensiled maize stover (EMS) and protein  concentrate supplement (CS) on nutrient digestibility and nitrogen balance of ensiled maize stover (EMS) and concentrate supplement (CS) by West African Dwarf ewe was carried out. were showed Fifteen West African dwarf ewe with body weight of 14-16 kg allotted to individual metabolic cage in completely randomized design after preliminary feeding trial. The treatments were:  A (75% EMS + 25% CS), B (50% EMS + 50% CS), C (25% EMS + 75% CS), D (100%EMS) and E (100% CS). The digestibility study lasted for seven days to determine dry matter digestibility, nutrients digestibility and nitrogen retention of WAD ewe fed ensiled maize stover and concentrate supplement. Results that dry matter intake (DMI), digestible crude protein (DCP), digestible crude fibre (DCF), digestible nitrogen free extract (DNFE), and total  digestible nutrients (TDN) ranged from 321.65- 694.41gDM/day, 3.99 - 12.30%, 7.32 - 17.23%, 33.35 – 38.85% and 63.65 – 70.92%, respectively. Dry matter intake of ewe fed sole ensiled maize stover (diet D) was lowest (321.65gDM/day) while animals on diet C (25% EMS+75%CS) had the highest (694.41gDM/d). Apparent digestibility of CP was lowest (3.99%) in ewe fed sole EMS and highest (12.20%) in ewe fed diet C (25% EMS + 75% CS).  Positive N-balance was observed for all the five diets, but it was highest (P< 0.05) in diet B (50%+50%) and lowest in diet D (100% EMS). Similarly, N-retention was highest (67.15%) in diet B and lowest (27.61%) in diet D. Therefore, diet made up of 50% ensiled maize stover and 50% concentrate is recommended for sheep production.

Keywords: concentrate supplement, digestibility, nitrogen balance, maize stover, sheep.