Leucaena leucocephala AND Gliriciclia sepium supplementation of growing sheep fed rice straw: effects on feed intake, live weight gain digestibility and rumen degradation characteristic

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1995-03-21
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The evaluation of Leucaena leucocephala and Gliricidia sepium as protein supplements to low quality diets of intensively managed small ruminant livestock was carried out in two experiments whose main objectives were; to determine the effects of Leucaena and Gliricidia supplementation on feed intake, live weight gain, digestibility, and water intake by sheep, and to study the effects of two tree legumes on rumen degradation characteristics of feedstuffs. In experiment I, a feeding trial was conducted to study the effects of Leucaena and Gliricidia hay supplementation on feed intake, live weight gain, digestibility and water intake by growing sheep. Thirty- six sheep were fed rice straw (50g dry matter (DM) /kg/day) with three levels of Leucaena and Gliricidia (7, 14 and 2lg DM/kg Body mass (M) 0.75/day) in a completely randomized block design in a factorial experiment. Increases in level of Leucaena leucocephala and Gliricidia sepium supplementation significantly (p < 0.05) increased; foliage protein supplement and total feed 1DM intake, foliage protein supplement and total feed 1DM intake per metabolic size and protein supplement intake at week 1. However, Multipurpose trees (MPT) supplementation did not significantly (p > 0.05) affect rice straw 1DM intake. The type of MPT and MPT x level interaction did not significantly (p > 0.05) affect feed intake. The Average Daily Live weight Gain (AVLG) was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in sheep offered Leucaena than Gliricidia. MPT x level interactions were significant (p < 0.05) for AVLG and metabolic size of sheep at week 10. Levels 21 of Leucaena and 14 of Gliricidia had higher and significant AVLG of 15g and 2g/day respectively. In vivo organic matter digestibility differed significantly (p < 0.05) according to type, level or type and level of MPT supplementation. There were no significant (p > 0.05) variations in water intake due to supplementation. In experiment II, the effects of Leucaena and Gliricidia hay supplementation on in sacco degradability and in vitro gas production of feedstuffs were studied. Three sheep were fed rice straw (50g DM/kgLWT/day) with 14g DM/kgM0.75/day of supplement in a completely randomized design replicated three times. Rumen NH3-N and pH concentrations were determined during 12 hour duration. There were no significant (p > 0.05) variations in sacco degradability constants a, b, c and Nutritive Index Value (NIV) due to type of MPT offered. Significant (p > 0.05) differences existed between different components of rice straw in the following order: rice straw stem > leaf > whole. The in vitro gas production constants a, b, c and NIV were significantly (p > 0.05) higher in Leucaena than Gliricidia supplementation. The mean volumes of gas produced by rice straw significantly (p < 0.05) differed according to fraction in the following order: rice straw stem > leaf > whole. The in vitro gas production of Leucaena and Gliricidia were significant (p < 0.05) but low. They were comparable to rice straw stem. Sheep on Leucaer.a had significantly (p < 0.05) higher rumen NH3-N and pH concentration than those on Gliricidia supplementation. The correlation between in sacco degradability and in vitro gas production were poor. The results indicate that Dry Matter Intake (DMI), Digestible Dry Matter Intake (DDMI) and rumen degradability of rice straw and live weight gain of Djallonke x Sahelian sheep fed rice straw could be increased by supplementation with Leucaena and Gliricidia hay.
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A thesis submitted to the Institute of Renewable Natural Resources, Department of Agroforestry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science, 1995.
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