Laboratory studies were conducted to evaluate changes in chemical nutrients and mineral concentrations of water hyacinth as influenced by the season of harvest, habitat and morphological parts of the plants. Proximate composition (DM, CP, CF, EE and ash), fiber fractions (NDF, ADF and ADL) and concentrations of minerals (Ca, P, K, Na, Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn, and Pb) in water hyacinth harvested from canal, lagoon, river and dam at the early and late period of wet and dry seasons were determined. Results showed that CP, EE and ash contents of water hyacinth harvested from the different water bodies differ (P < 0.05). Dry matter and CP values ranged from 7.68 to 7.96 and 10.32 to 10.40 g/100g DM in water hyacinth from river and dam respectively. Effects of the season on the chemical nutrient composition of water hyacinth were not significant (P> 0.05) except for DM that was highest (8.22) in the late dry season. Water hyacinth harvested from the different water bodies contains relatively high levels of minerals that vary (P<0.05) with the season of harvest. The high CP and mineral concentrations of water hyacinth suggests that the plant can be used as fodder for ruminant livestock production.
Animal feed shortages characterize the long dry season in most Sub-Saharan African countries. Studies exploring alternative feedstuffs with similar or complementary nutritional efficacy to the conventional ones are seriously canvassed. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of feeding West African Dwarf (WAD) sheep with different combinations of guinea grass and ensiled A. brasiliana based diets on their intake, haematology, and biochemical indices. A total of 30 growing female WAD sheep (BW =10.5 ± 0.92 kg; mean ± SD), 12–18 months of age were allocated to five dietary treatments containing different inclusion levels of ensiled A. brasiliana (0%, 30%, 45%, 60% and 90%) in a trial that lasted for 90 days. Intakes were estimated daily and body weight changes taken weekly. Blood concentrations of haemoglobin, packed cell volume, white blood cells, differential white blood counts (lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils), red blood cells, total protein, albumin, globulin, creatinine and cholesterol were also determined. The total dry matter intake (DMI) increased ( P < 0.05) with increasing inclusion levels of A. brasiliana . While the feed conversion ratio decreased ( P < 0.05), the final weight and average daily gain significantly increased ( P < 0.05) with increasing levels ensiled A. brasiliana . The red blood cell, creatinine, globulin, cholesterol, white blood cell and its differentials were not affected ( P > 0.05) by the inclusion levels of A. brasiliana . However, the total protein and albumin were influenced ( P < 0.05) by inclusion levels of A. brasiliana . The inclusion levels of A. brasiliana up to 90% promote growth and were not harmful to the ewes.
The limiting factor in the use of water hyacinth (WH) as a fodder is the high moisture content. Subjecting this water weed to various processing methods might reduce the moisture content to an appreciable level that will be tolerated by animals. Fresh samples of water hyacinth harvested from lagoon water body in Ogun State were processed into wilted, ensiled, sun-cured. Two experiments were conducted. Experiment 1 involved the determination of nutrient composition (Dry matter, Crude protein, Crude fibre Ash, Neutral detergent fibre and Acid detergent fibre), mineral content(macro and micro minerals) and secondary metabolites (spot test analysis of (saponin, phenol and steroid) of fresh and processed WH. In experiment II, the fresh and processed WH were fed to eight WAD goats in a cefetaria feeding trial to determine the Coefficient of Preference (COP) ofall forms of water hyacinth. Results revealed that, the nutrient composition was influenced by processing methods except for the ash content. The sun-cured WH contained more dry matter (89.30 g/100g DM), while the lowest dry matter (8.22 g/100g DM) was recorded for fresh WH. However, ensiled WH contained more crude protein (16.23 g/100g DM) than other forms of WH, the lowest CP (10.42 g/100gDM) was recorded for fresh WH (DBG has some protein in it and it added to the water hyacinth, hence the raised CP content of ensiled WH). However, the neutral detergent fibre ranged from 55.20 to66.25 g/100g DM in ensiled and sun-cured respectively.The mineral content of all forms of WH were similar. Qualitative evaluation of saponin, phenol and steroid showed that all forms of WH contained tannins and steroids; saponin was found but declared negative due to height of the form. The result of COP,showed thatthefresh WH (0.74) was rejected, while all processed WH were acceptable to the animals.However,the ensiled WH (1.40) was most preferred. It is concluded that processing methods can improve the nutrient composition of WH and also the preference by animals.
A 13-week study was carried out to investigate the potentials of peeled and unpeeled cassava roots as a substitute for maize in layers ration. Unpeeled cassava root meal was used at 3 levels of inclusion (25%, 50% and 100%) while the peeled cassava meal was used only at 25% level of inclusion in the diet. A total of 140 black harco pullets were randomly allotted to 5 experimental diets in line with cassava root meal inclusion as diet 1 (control diet without cassava root), diet 2 (25% unpeeled cassava root meal), diet 3 (50% unpeeled cassava root meal), diet 4 (100% unpeeled cassava root meal) and diet 5 (25% peeled cassava root meal). The study lasted for 13 weeks. No significant difference (p<0.05) were observed in the values obtained across the treatment groups for feed intake. Birds that were fed with 100% unpeeled cassava meal (diet 4) had significantly lowered body weight gain when compared with birds that were fed with diets 1, 2, 3 and 5 which had similar values. No significant difference was observed in the feed conversion ratio of birds fed with diets 1,2,3 and 5 but these values were significantly lower that the value for diet 4. Other performance indices like age at first egg and hen day production at 24 weeks were not affected by cassava root meal inclusion in the diets. The cost of producing feed using cassava root meal was however cheaper than maize based diet.
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