Cassava-poultry dropping block: A feed supplement for West African dwarf sheep

Abstract

Feed blocks containing 45% of molasses (A) or cassava wastes (rind, peels, small tubers and some pulp) in substitution of 60(B), 80(C) or 100%(D) of molasses were offered as supplement to 16 West African, dwarf sheep (16±2.5kg initial, BW) fed ad libitum on Panicum maximum hay during a 10- week period. Feed intake, digestibility and growth performance were studied in a completely randomized experimental design. All the urea and 40% of the palm kernel meal contained in the control molasses block (10 and 25%) were also replaced by caged layer droppings and Shea butter cake in the cassava containing blocks (B, C and D). Each block was replicated twice with two animals per replicate. DM intake averaged 92, 228, 230 and 235g/d for animal on blocks containing 0, 60, 80 and 100% cassava wastes. The energy intake rose (P<0.05) with cassava substitution and was similar among cassava based blocks. The apparent digestibility of DM increased (p<0.05) from 54 to 67% while the apparent digestibility of CP was greater (p<0.05) for blocks B-D than for A (78, 84, 77 and 67% respectively). Mean body weight changes average -10, 57. 1, 60.5 and 87.2g/d for sheep fed blocks, A,B,C and D respectively, while the feed: gain ratio was highest for block D. Physical evaluation of blocks B, C and D  compared favorably with block A while cost analysis revealed that block D was the most profitable as regards cost of the feed per Kg weight gain. The results emphasized the need to substitute cassava wastes, caged layer droppings and Shea butter cake for molasses and urea respectively in a situation where availability and method of utilization of molasses and urea are of vital consideration.

Key words: Cassava wastes, caged layer droppings, West African Dwarf sheep, digestibility, growth