Comparative study on intake, digestibility and nitrogen balance of cowpea, groundnut and soybean hays in a mixed diet fed red Sokoto bucks

Abstract

Four Red Sokoto bucks of average weight 15±2kg were fed different legumes hay in a mixed diet to evaluate their feed intake,  digestibility and nitrogen balance. Using 4×4 Latin Square arrangement. The four test diets contained Maize offal, Rice husk, Salt, Bone meal and Cotton seed cake.while,20% of Soybean, groundnut and cowpea hay were included in the test diets designated  T2,T3 and T4 respectively. The animals were used for digestibility and nitrogen balance studies were transferred to individual metabolism crate, for separate collection of urine and faeces.  Measurements were taken for period of five consecutive days. Total faecal and urine samples collected over five days were bulked and subsampled. Urine output for 24 hours was collected with plastic buckets containing 0.1N H SO acid placed under 2 4 metabolic crates.. Ten percent (10%) of daily urine output were taken from each buck. The result of the nutrient intake showed that the bucks fed 20% Cowpea hay had the highest (P<0.05) DM, CP, Ash, and NFE intake. The results of nutrient digestibility and the nitrogen balance values were statistically (P<0.05) higher in the bucks fed 0% followed by 20% Cowpea hay inclusion. The result indicated that the apparent digestibility of organic matter was significantly high (P<0.05) in animals fed 0% followed by 20% Cowpea hay inclusions. The least nitrogen loss was obtained in the bucks fed 20% cowpea hay .Nitrogen retained as per cent of nitrogen intake values were statistically (P<0.05) different across the treatments. The Nitrogen retained as per cent of nitrogen intake values ranged from 66.17% for bucks fed 20%  soybean hay to 76.75% for 20% cowpea hay inclusions. Nitrogen retention was positive for all treatments and significantly  (P<0.05) high in the bucks fed 20% cowpea hay inclusion. It was concluded that feed intake, nutrient  digestibility and nitrogen utilization of goat can be enhanced by feeding 20% of cowpea hay in the mixed diet without adverse effect.

Keywords: Soybeans, Cowpea, Groundnut, hay, mixed diet