The study was conducted to determine the pattern of organic matter degradability, volatile fatty acid concentration, estimated methane and microbial protein products of napier grass and fruit peels when fermented in the rumen. In vitro method was used to determine the pattern of these end-products. Five experimental samples were randomly assigned to five treatments with one sample per treatment in a completely randomized design. The compared experimental samples were napier grass (NG), orange peel (OP), pawpaw peel (PPL), mango peel (MP) and plantain peel (PP). Results obtained showed that parameters observed under in vitro gas production characteristics, organic matter degradation, volatile fatty acids concentration, estimated methane and microbial protein products were significantly (P<0.05) affected with the exception of intercept (a) and gas production rate constant for the insoluble fraction (b) (P<0.05). The incubation time (t 1 / 2) (18.00hr), acetate (74.42%) and methane (38.00mmol) were significantly (P<0.05) highest for NG. Gas production from the insoluble but degradable fraction (58.98ml), potential gas production (62.00ml) and propionate (13.42%) were significantly (P<0.05) higher for PPL whereas organic matter degraded (42.01mg), volatile fatty acid concentration (72.75 mmol/litre), butyrate (10.20%) and microbial protein (2393g) were better for MP. It was concluded that MP and PP have the potentials to improve rumen fermentation efficiency and reduce methane gas.

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The study was conducted to determine the replacement value of cassava peels and rice husk combination for guinea grass, using nutrient digestibility, energy utilization and in vitro gas production characteristics by West African Dwarf Sheep. Fifteen (15) growing WAD Sheep with an average weight of 9.00 ± 0.01kg and aged between 9 and 10 months old were randomly assigned to three (3) dietary treatments with five (5) animals per treatment in a completely randomized design. The compared diets were A (guinea grass), B (cassava peels with rice husk in a ratio of 60:10) and C (cassava peels with rice husk in a ratio of 55:15). The results showed that parameters observed under digestibility, energy and in vitro gas production characteristics were significantly affected (P<0.05) with the exception of dry matter digestibility, gas produced from the soluble fraction (a), gas production rate constant (c)and incubation time(t 1 / 2 ) (P>0.05). CP (74.37%) , EE (62.49%), CF (47.08%), ash (70.89%), NDF (48.62%), ADF (49.68%), ADL (54.83%) digestibility, GE intake (2229.74kcal/g/day), DE (95.45kcal/g/day), CH 4 (13ml), ME (8.31MJ/kg/DM), OMD (56.10%) and SCFA (0.09μM) were significantly (P<0.05) better for diet A. Gas production from the insoluble fraction (38.75ml) and potential gas production (41.00ml) were highest in diet B, whereas NFE digestibility (79.38%), total energy output (197.21kcal/g/day) and metabolizable energy BW 0.75 (15.11kcal/g/day) were higher for diet C. It is concluded that cassava peels with rice husk in a ratio of 60:10 has a potential to replace guinea grass in the diet of WAD sheep.