Napier grass varieties as basal diet: effects of supplementation with paper mulberry leaves (Broussonetia Papyrifera) on growth performance and blood parameters of West African Dwarf Sheep (Djallonké)
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Date
November, 2016
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Abstract
An experiment was undertaken to assess the effect of dried Paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera) leaves as a supplement to West African Dwarf sheep fed a basal diet of Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) varieties on the growth performance and blood indices. A total of twenty-four West African Dwarf sheep (rams) weighing averagely 17.5 kg were used in a completely randomized design in a 2×3 factorial arrangement of six treatments with four replicates. The main factors were the two varieties of Napier grass; the local variety and the improved variety, supplemented at three levels, thus 0 g/ day (control), 150 g/ day and 300 g/ day with Paper mulberry leaves. Parameters measured included nutrient compositions of the diets, average daily intake, live weight gain, haematological and biochemical indices. The chemical composition of the dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre and cellulose contents for the local variety was 69.05%, 52.97%, 13.21%, 83.00%, 39.00% and 10.41% respectively, and that of the improved variety were 70.02%, 60.53%, 13.87%, 83.50%, 40.00% and 11.79% respectively. The chemical composition of the supplement showed a DM of 89.00 %, CP of 24.06 %, ADF of 21.00 %, NDF of 44.00 %, CF of 12.50 %, EE of 6.50 % and ash content of 14.00 %. Supplementation with Paper mulberry leaves on Napier grass basal diet of sheep resulted in a significant increase (P< 0.05) in the average daily gain of sheep in all the treatments. Total intake improved as the level of supplement increased from 0 g/day to 300 g/day. The amount of feed consumed expressed in terms of kilogram body weight showed a significant increase (P< 0.05) in the basal intake per kilogram body weight as the level of supplement increased. Likewise, there was also a significant increase (P< 0.05) in the basal feed intake per kilogram metabolic size due to supplementation in all the treatments
Effects of the treatments on haematological parameters for Hb, and HCT were found to be within the normal physiological range reported for healthy sheep by other authors. Results for RBC, WBC, MCV, MCH and MCHC were, however, varied; some were above the normal range reported for health sheep while others were below the normal range. Biochemical indices observed were all found to be within the normal physiological range reported for healthy sheep. It was concluded that Paper mulberry can serve as a supplement to Napier grass when fed up to 300 g/day without any adverse effect on the growth performance and blood parameters of the West African Dwarf sheep.
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A thesis submitted to the Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy (Animal Nutrition),