IntroductionIn most parts of the world, protein is specially the major nutrient deficient in people's diets. It is reported that an average Nigerian consumes about 5.5 g of animal protein per day which is by far lower than the recommended 77 g per day [1]. The low level of animal protein intake in Nigeria is due to the low level of productivity of our livestock and high cost of animal protein.
IntroductionIt was estimated that by 2020, the demand for livestock products will double and meat and milk production in the developing countries like Nigeria will grow at annual rates of 2.7 and 3.2% respectively [1]. Meeting these demands will be constrained by the inability of the producers to feed their animals adequately throughout the year. also stated that because of the direct competition between man and animals over the conventional feed resources, it becomes imperative to maximize the use of crop by-products in feeding animals especially the small ruminants [1]. This will involve finding alternative supplementary feed sources that are cheap and nutritionally adequate, readily available and not in direct use by humans [2]. The authors further stated that devising a means of evaluating agro-processing wastes to supplement limiting nutrients such as protein and energy becomes essential.Plant cell walls are degraded by a combination of bacteria, fungi and protozoa with bacteria and fungi contributing about 80% of the degradative activity and protozoa 20% [3]. They also reported that rumen microbes digest feed through the action of enzymes they produce. Contact between the enzymes and their substrate is necessary for hydrolysis to occur. Adhesion is absolutely essential for efficient digestion of forages and cereal grains in the rumen.The experiment examined the effects of replacements levels of maize cob for maize bran on nutrients utilization, rumen metabolites and microbes of 24 Red Sokoto goats. Maize cob replaced maize bran at 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50% levels designated as treatments T 1 , T 2 , T 3 , T 4 , T 5 and T 6 respectively. Unto each treatment, was added 10% cotton seed cake. Cowpea husk was fed ad libitum as basal diet. The experiment ran for 21 days made up of 7 days adaptation and 14 days of data collection. Parameters determined were proximate composition of feed ingredients and experimental diets, dry matter intakes, nutrients digestibility, rumen pH, Ammonia Nitrogen, volatile fatty acids and bacterial counts before and after feeding of the diets. It was found that the nutrient compositions of the diets differed significantly (P<0.05) with increasing levels of maize cob inclusion in the diets. There was also significant (P<0.05) difference for dry matter and nutrients digestibility across treatments with treatments T 2 and T 4 having the highest for all the parameters. However, metabolic nutrient intakes significantly differed (P<0.05) among treatments. Rumen pH, Ammonia nitrogen and volatile fatty acids decreased after feeding the diets while bacteria counts increased. Ranges of rumen pH (6.20-6.50), Volatile fatty acids (29.03-31.23 Mmol/100mls) bacterial counts (7.0-9.6×10 6 ) and Ammonia nitrogen of 10.65-12.20mg/100mls were found. It was concluded that despite the increase in maize cob inclusion in the diets, with increase in energy, crude fiber and decrease in crude protein levels, the diets still supplied adequate nutrients for the animals to maintain balanced rumen environment co...
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