| dc.description.abstract | Two feeding experiments were conducted to evaluate Acacia
brevispica and Leucaena leucocephala seedpods as dry season
supplements in terms of nutrient composition and liveweight
performance.
In feeding experiment one (FE-I), 18 calves were used.
The treatments comprised of A1 (control-I), B (Acacia seedpod
meal-ASM) and C1 (Leucaena seedpod meal-LSM-l). Each
treatment was allocated 6 calves. In feeding experiment two
(FE-2), 16 calves were used. The treatments were A2 (control-
2) and C2 (LSM-2). Each treatment was allocated 8 calves.
Experimental diets were designed to supply isonitrogenous
levels. A daily intake of 1.5 kg ASM diet and 1.2 kg LSM diet
and at least 2.5 kg of basal hay would supply 60% (265 g) of
the total CP requirement for growth rate of 500 g d-1.
Control calves were given 0.6 kg wheat bran equivalent to the
amount used in formulating ASM and LSM diets. Calves were
weighed weekly over five and four weeks in FE-l and FE-2
respectively. Computed average daily gain (ADG) and intake
data were subjected to analysis of variance and F-test was
used to compare experimental groups with the controls.
Seedpods at four phenological stages were analysed for
DM, Ash, CP, NDF and ADF to monitor nutrient profile with
maturity. Separated seedpods were analysed for DM, Ash, CP,
EE, NDF, ADF, in vitro digestibility and tannin contents to
determine the contribution made by seed and pod (carpel) to
the nutritive value of the whole seedpod. Chemical analyses
were done in duplicate following conventional procedures.
Contents of CP declined and fibre (NDF and ADF) increased
wit h maturity . The decline in CP was more drastic in ~
brevispica than in ~ leucocephala as the seedpods dry. Seeds
contained higher CP, EE and IVDMD, but lower fibre than empty
pods. Dry leucocephala seedpods had appreciable amounts of
tannins than A. brevispica, more of which were located in
empty pods.
In FE-1, ADG (gd-1) was 486, 250 and 239 for calves on
LSM-1, ASM and control-1 respectively. Calves supplemented
with LSM-1 diet had significantly (P < 0.01) better ADG than
control-l and those on ASM diet. Calves on ASM had superior
growth rate than control-1, though not significantly (P<0.05) .
Using hay from an arid enviroment in FE-2, calves on LSM-2 had
significantly (P<0.01) higher ADG (559gd-1) than control-2
(276gd-1) confirming the results
of both legume plants
obtained in FE-1. Intact
seedpods had similar contents of
Digestible energy (DE). However, seedpods of abrevispica
used in FE-1 contained only 65% of their seeds and thus had
lower contents of DE. The ADG of calves on ASM diet did not
reflect the true nutritive value of intact seedpods.
It was concluded that if seeds are retained, both
seedpods are suitable feeds for ruminants, at least for
strategic supplementation by agropastoralists and farmers who
have financial limitations when other feeds are unavailable in
the dry season. However, further research was proposed to
determine the effect and level of feeding A. brevispica
seedpods when seeds are retained. | en |
