No abstract

Twenty-one early-weaned West African dwarf goats weighing between 1.0 and 1.5 kg at birth were used to assess the protein and energy requirement of pre-weaned West African Dwarf (WAD) goats fed soyabean diet. Three isonitrogenous diets (24%) were prepared such that dried whole-milk protein was replaced by corn starch and soyabean concentrate protein at 0.0%, 25.0% and 50.0% levels such that a 14.5% total solid solution was obtained for each diet. Results indicated that a daily digestible energy (expressed as kcal/day/W0.75 kg) intake of 58.2, 63.7, 98.5 and 114.6 kcal was required for maintenance, while a corresponding value of 7.37, 4.50, 2.18 and 1.91 kcal was required per day per gram live weight gain by the kids at 4, 6, 9 and 13weeks old, respectively. Similarly, a digestible crude protein (DCP) intake of 3.59 g/day/W0.75 kg) appeared to be adequate for maintenance of the kids between 0 and 13 weeks, while 0.34 g/day/W0.75 kg of DCP intake was required per day per gram live weight.

No abstract

Soybean,Glycine max, is a highly nutritious seed. It contains high quality protein and unsaturated fat. Despite the high nutritive value of soybeans, its use has been limited by a number of anti- nutritional .factors which are capable of causing adverse nutritional and physiological responses in animals. Several processing methods such as heat treatment, use of chemicals such as acids, alkali and alcohols or a combination of these have been developed and used to reduce or completely eliminate these anti-nutritional factors and hence improve its utilization. This review addresses the nutritive value of soybean, anti-nutritional factors, effect of processing on the nutritive value of the seed and the utilization of soybean in milk replacers for pre-ruminants. Well processed soybean can provide high quality proteins that can be used to replace milk proteins in milk replacers for pre ruminants. Studies on utilization of milk replacers by pre-ruminants are scanty in Nigeria. More effort needs to be devoted to research in this area.

Low pasture quality and quantity adversely affect the performance of ruminants in the tropics. This necessitated the search for other feed resources that could augment the deficit, particularly, in the dry season. However, some of these feed resources contain phytochemicals which if not properly processed could be detrimental to ruminants. This study was carried out to determine the effects of processing on nutrients, phytochemicals and microbial characteristics of WAD sheep fed processed Gmelina arborea leaf based diets. Gmelina arborea leaves (GAL) were harvested and used as fresh, chopped, sun-dried, air-dried and boiled-dried. Nutrients and phytochemicals were determined from samples. Rations were comprised in the following proportions; T1 (50% Penniseum purpureurn: 50% fresh Gmelina arborea leaves), T2 (40% Penniseum purpureurn: 60% chopped Gmelina arborea leaves), T3 (40% Penniseum purpureurn: 60% air dried Gmelina arborea leaves), T4 (40% Penniseum purpureurn : 60% sun dried Gmelina arborea leaves), T5 (40% Penniseum purpureurn : 60% boil dried Gmelina arborea leaves). were randomly assigned to one of the rations with eight sheep per group in a completely randomized design. Ninety days post-feeding, rumen liquor was collected for microbial assay using standard procedure. The CP and calcium were increased in T1 and T2 compared to others except for NFE which was reduced. Tannin and saponin increased in T1 and T2 but reduced in T5. Streptococcus spp was absent in T5 compared to T1 and T2. Lower total bacteria count was observed in T5 compared to other treatments. Boiled-drying reduced the crude protein and phytochemicals contents of Gmelina arborea leaves with reduction in total bacteria count in the rumen.