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)

dc.contributor.authorAfriyie, Owusu Kyei Kwasi
dc.date.accessioned2017-01-18T11:14:06Z
dc.date.accessioned2023-04-19T12:22:19Z
dc.date.available2017-01-18T11:14:06Z
dc.date.available2023-04-19T12:22:19Z
dc.date.issuedNovember, 2016
dc.descriptionA 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), en_US
dc.description.abstractAn 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.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipKNUSTen_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://ir.knust.edu.gh/handle/123456789/9947
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.titleNapier 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)en_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Afriyie Owusu Kyei.pdf
Size:
964.12 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Full Thesis
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.73 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed to upon submission
Description:
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.71 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed to upon submission
Description: