Nutrients Intake, Performance and Nitrogen Balance of West African Dwarf Sheep Fed Graded Levels of Toasted Enterolobium cyclocarpum Seeds as Supplement to Panicum maximum

Abstract

A study was conducted to assess the nutritive value of Enterolobium cyclocarpum seeds as supplementary feed for ruminant animals during the dry season when grasses are either not available or of low quality. Matured fruits of E. cyclocarpum were collected, toasted, peeled and then used for the trial. Thirty two West African Dwarf (WAD) sheep aged between 12 +/- 2 months with an average body weight of 10 +/- 2 kg were used in assessing the nutritive value of graded levels of toasted Enterolobium cyclocarpum seed in a concentrate diets as supplement to Panicum maximum basal diet. The percent compositions of the experimental diets were toasted E. cyclocarpum seeds at various levels of inclusion (0, 10, 20 and 30%) for diets 1, 2, 3 and 4. respectively. The diets (1-4) were consecutively fed to each animal at 50 g kg(-1) b.wt. for 12 weeks in a completely randomized design. Parameters taken were weekly body weights, daily feed intake, nutrient utilization and nitrogen balance status for each animal. Diet 2 had the highest significant (p < 0.05) nutrients intake being 871.88, 137.13, 147.59, 33.26 and 69.86 g day(-1) for DM, CP, CF, EE and ASH respectively. The Dry Matter Digestibility (DMD) coefficients decreased significantly (p < 0.05) with increased inclusion levels of toasted E. cyclocarpum seeds supplementation. Sheep fed diet 4 had the lowest feed conversion ratio (8.61) and the highest daily average gain of 58.93 g. However the animals fed Diet 2 had the highest nitrogen retension and converted their feed to flesh.

Genetic diversity in natural populations of Stylosanthes scabra using ISSR markers

“…The scarcity of pastures in Brazilian semi-arid north-eastern in dry seasons has stimulated the advancement in studies of native forage plants (Santana Neto et al, 2015). Forage legumes can be used as a protein source to correct the deficiency of natural pastures (Tufarelli et al, 2010), moreover contain high levels of minerals and vitamins (Idowu et al, 2013).…”

Biodegradation of Antinutritional Factors in Whole Leaves of Enterolobium cyclocarpum by Aspergillus niger Using Solid State Fermentation

“…The tree is fast growing with no widespread disease and pest problem (Ezenwa, 1999). Biomass yield is high, the foliage is rich in protein and other nutrients (Arigbede et al, 1997;Babayemi et al, 2004) and as a leguminous multipurpose plant, it has the potential of fixing atmospheric nitrogen in the soil (Idowu et al, 2013). The leaves are used to feed sheep (Navas Camacho et al, 1993) and serve as fodder (Carranza Montano et al, 2003).…”

“…The leaves are used to feed sheep (Navas Camacho et al, 1993) and serve as fodder (Carranza Montano et al, 2003). However, in the southwest of Nigeria, E. cyclocarpum foliage has not been accepted by sheep, goats and cattle possibly due to the presence of antinutritional factors (Babayemi, 2006;Idowu et al, 2013) which makes them low in palatability (Arigbede et al, 1997).…”

Patterns of genetic diversity and potential ecological niches of Stylosanthes species from northeastern Argentina

“…The introduction of legumes in agricultural systems increases the amount of N through symbiotic fixation, increases the quality of animal diets through higher protein, mineral, and vitamin concentrations present in forage produced, and improves soil cover to avoid erosion (Idowu et al., 2013; Tufarelli, Cazzato, Ficco, & Laudadio, 2010). However, it is a challenge to identify legume species adapted to different environmental conditions, particularly those common in transition zones, such as the subtropical belt.…”