Digestibility and growth in West African dwarf sheep fed gliricidia – based multinutrient block supplements

Abstract

Sixty West African Dwarf (WAD) rams aged between 7-10 months and mean Body Weight of 12.6 kg (range 9.3-14.5 kg) were used to study the influence of Gliricidia - based multinutrient blocks (MNBs) as supplement to Panicum maximum and cassava peel feed for 12 weeks. Gliricidia+Poultry manure (GPMNB), Gliricidia+Urea+Poultry manure (GUPMNB) and Gliricidia+Urea (GUMNB) and Panicum - cassava peel (control) were analyzed for proximate composition, mineral content, gross energy and anti-nutritional factors. Mean weight gain of rams fed MNBs (1.4±0.4-2.0±0.9 kg) was significantly higher than those fed the control diet (0.7±0.2 kg). Rams fed control diet had the lowest feed conversion ratio (50.6±0.2) while rams fed GUMNB, GPMNB and GUPMNB supplements had 20.6±0.1, 21.3±1.2, 26.6±0.4. The dry matter intake of rams fed MNBs (1573.33±2.1-1584.67±2.9 g day-1) was significantly (P<0.05) higher than (1102.00±9.6 g day-1) in the control diets. Daily average gain of 28.6±0.0, 47.6±1.6, 57.1±0.0 g for GUPMNB, GPMNB and GUMNB respectively were higher than in the control diet (9.5±4.2 g). Nitrogen balance values for sheep on treatments GUMNB, GUPNMB and GPMNB were significantly (P<0.05) higher than in the control diet. The coefficient digestibility of DM, CP, CF, EE, NFE of the rams in the control ration were consistently lower (P<0.05) than those fed the MNBs supplemented ration. The body length gains of rams fed MNBs (15.75±3.5 cm-25.0±0.7 cm) were significantly (P<0.05) higher than those rams fed the control diet (9.6±1.2 cm). It was concluded that Gliricidia - based multinutrient block supplements could be fed with Panicum - cassava peels to improve feed intake, nutrient digestibility and nitrogen utilization leading to a better performance of sheep.