Enterolobium cyclocarpum leaves are less acceptable by ruminants due to their high contents of anti-nutritional factors. The effect of preserving Enterolobium cyclocarpum leaves as hay and silage or silage: hay combinations on the proximate, fibre fractions, anti-nutritional factors, minerals and vitamins compositions were investigated in this study. Six experimental treatments consisting of 100% fresh Enterolobium cyclocarpum leaves, 100% ensiled Enterolobium cyclocarpum leaves, 100% sun dried Enterolobium cyclocarpum leaves, 75% silage: 25% hay, 50% silage: 50% hay and 25% silage: 75% hay were formulated. Each treatment was replicated 3 times and analyzed for chemical composition. The crude protein content ranged from 14.70 – 22.05%, which significantly differed (p<0.05) across treatments with the highest value in the fresh leaves. The values for neutral detergent fibre ranged from 56.64 – 57.92 %, acid detergent fibre from 37.14 – 39.87 % and acid detergent lignin from 13.30 – 14.96 %, they all differed significantly (p<0.05) across treatments with highest values in the 100% ensiled treatment. Preservation as silage significantly (p<0.05) reduced the concentrations of tannin, phytate and hydrocyanic acid, while preservation as hay significantly (p<0.05) reduced the concentration of saponin. The mineral contents of the EC leaves preserved as silage, hay and silage: hay combinations (Treatments 2 - 6) compared favourably with the mineral contents of the fresh leaves (Treatment 1). Preserved EC leaves (Treatments 2 – 6) had significantly (p<0.05) higher concentrations of vitamin C (444.21 –657.60 mg/100g) than the fresh leaves (308.79mg/100g). Thus preservation of E. cyclocarpum leaves as silage or hay improved its chemical composition and reduced its contents of anti-nutritional factors.

A 56-day feeding trial using twelve (12) crossbred weaner pigs of 8 weeks of age and average weight of 10.58±0.17kg were used to investigate the effect of different dietary levels of raw bambara groundnut offal on their growth and carcass characteristics. Four diets were formulated to contain raw bambara groundnut offal at 0, 10, 20 and 30%, designated T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively. The weaner pigs were randomly assigned to the four (4) diets in a 3 4 completely randomized design (CRD) experiment. Chemical composition of the test ingredient and diets were analysed. Data collected include feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER) and economics of production. The carcass characteristics were also evaluated. The proximate composition of the experimental diets revealed that the crude protein and ether extract contents of the diets decreased with increased levels of raw BGO in the diets, but the converse was true for crude fibre and ash contents. The results indicated significant differences (p< 0.05) in daily weight gain (DWG), feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, cost (N) /kg of feed and cost (N)/kg weight gain. The values were, 0.34, 0.29, 0.28 and 0.22kg for DWG, 3.03, 3.62, 3.55, and 4.30 for FCR in T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively. Protein efficiency ratio, values were 1.84, 1.54, 1.57 and 1 2 3 4 1.29. Cost /kg of feed values were 75.69, 70.13, 64.56 and 56.10, and cost (N)/kg weight gain were 229.32, 253.86, 229.20 and 253.69 for the treatments respectively. The results of the carcass evaluation indicated significant differences (p< 0.05) for ham and trotters. The values were 0.31, 0.35, 0.37 and 0.32 for ham in T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively. The values of trotters were, 64.6, 56.99, 56.98 and 53.66 among the treatments. For organs characteristics, the results indicated significant differences (p< 0.05) for lung, kidney, liver and spleen. The values of the lungs were, 11.20, 11.25, 9.40 and 8.97 among the treatments. The values of kidney and liver were, 3.34, 2.86, 3.72 and 3.14, and 24.28, 28.57, 22.55 and 27.70 respectively. The inclusion of up to 20% raw BGO in the diet of weaner pigs recorded comparable daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio and cost/kg weight gain with the group fed the control (0% raw BGO). Further studies involving heat treatment of the BGO might be necessary to improved nutrient utilization by the animals, and also increase inclusion level.

The study aimed at determining the effect of Pleurotus tuber-regium treated cassava root sievate based diets on haematology and serum biochemistry of West African dwarf (WAD) goats. Thirty-two WAD goats between six and eight months old were randomly divided into four groups of eight goats each. The groups were randomly assigned to the four experiment diets (T 1 , T 2 , T 3 , and T 4 ) for 90 days in a completely randomized design. At the start of the experiment, packed cell volume (PCV) ranged from 24.90-29.49% and red blood cell (RBC) 9.42 -10.44 x10 12/L while mean cell haemoglobin signi cantly (P0<0.5) ranged from 5.44 -6.41pg. At the end of the experiment, PCV and RBC showed signi cant differences and were better (p<0.05) in T 2 . At the start of the experiment, cholesterol ranged from 2.15 -2.29 mmol/l, creatinine 75.72-80.32 µmol/l, urea 16.39 -16.72 mg/dl, total bilirubin, 0.25 -0.28 µmol/l, total protein 61.73 -63.16 g/I, globulin 29.08 -29.59 g/I and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) 68.62 -71.06 U/L. At the end of the trial, cholesterol values was signi cantly (p<0.05) higher in T 1 . Urea was signi cantly reduced (p<0.05) in T 1 . Total protein, globulin and total bilirubin increased (p<0.05) linearly from T 1 to T 4 . AST was improved (p<0.05) at the end of the study. The study revealed that the inclusion of Pleurotus tuber-regium degraded cassava root sievate in the diets of West African Dwarf goats had no deleterious effects on the haematological and serum biochemical parameters of goats and could be included in goat diets up to 60%.

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