Effect of feeding napier grass, lucerne and sweet potato vines as sole diets to dairy heifers on nutrient intake, weight gain and rumen degradation

The effect of feeding diets including market crop wastes (sweet potato vines (Ipomoea batatas) and scarlet eggplant (Solanum aethiopicum)) on growth and digestibility was studied using 32 indigenous intact growing male goats. Adding elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum), maize bran and Leucaena leucocephala leaves, four isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets (Sweet potato vines, Solanum, Mixed and Control) were formulated. After the growth trial, 12 goats were randomly selected for a digestibility trial with the same diets, and 8 goats for a feed preference test comparing the market wastes and elephant grass. Crude protein (CP) intake was highest (P<0.05) for the Control (48 g/day) and lowest for the Sweet potato vines diet (23 g/day). Average daily gain was between 11.0 and 14.2 g/day, and similar between diets. The DM and CP digestibilities of the diets were 0.56 and 0.56 (Control), 0.62 and 0.56 (Mixed), 0.59 and 0.49 (Sweet potato vines), and 0.54 and 0.45 (Solanum), respectively. Faecal and urinary N excretions were highest in goats fed the Sweet potato vines and Solanum diets. Eggplant wastes were the least (P<0.05) preferred. On average the goats spent 5% of their 8-hour time eating eggplant wastes, 34% on sweet potato vines and 36% on elephant grass. Growth performance and N retention were low due to the low intake of feed, especially eggplant wastes.

Section: Chemical Composition Of the Feedscontrasting

confidence: 82%

Performance of growing indigenous goats fed diets based on urban market crop wastes

Katongole

Sabiiti

Bareeba

et al. 2008

“…The crude protein contents recorded for the sweet potato foliage were comparable to the 184 g/kg DM published as the average for sweet potato leaves in Nigeria (Tewe et al 2003). Similar crude protein contents for sweet potato fodder but higher crude protein values for Green panic have been reported by other workers (Kariuki et al 1998). The lower crude protein recorded for Green panic is peculiar to most dry-season grasses and forages in the tropics.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Sweet potato and Green panic as sole fodder for stall-fed lactating White Fulani cows and growing calves

Etela

Bamikole

Ikhatua

et al. 2007

Three sweet potato varieties (TIS-87/ 0087; TIS-8164; TIS-2532.OP.1.13) and Green panic (Panicum maximum) were evaluated for forage quality in a completely randomized design (CRD) using 12 sole-fed lactating White Fulani cows for 21 days, and 12 growing White Fulani and White Fulani x Brown Swiss calves for 77 days. Dry matter intake of cows ranged (p<0.05) between 131 g/Wkg(0.734) in TIS-87/0087 and 152 g/Wkg(0.734) in TIS-8164. Daily milk yields increased (p<0.05) in TIS-87/0087 (2%) and TIS-8164 (5%), but decreased in TIS-2532.OP.1.13 (5%) and Green panic (19%). Mean (+/-SEM) milk total solids (13.16+/-0.05 g/100 g), ash (0.78+/-0.01 g/100 g), protein (3.79+/-0.07 g/100 g), fat (3.98+/-0.06 g/100 g), and lactose (4.62+/-0.14 g/100 g) were significantly different (p<0.05) among treatments. The White Fulani x Brown Swiss calves recorded about 10, 25 and 29% higher birthweight, milk intake and bodyweight gains respectively, but about 3% lower dry matter intake than the purebred White Fulani calves. The rumen degradation rates were similar (p>0.05), while the rest rumen dry matter degradation characteristics were lowest (p< 0.05) for Green panic. Sweet potato forage could be used as sole feed or supplement for dry-season Green panic.

“…The CP content of elephant grass observed in this study was lower than that reported by Kariuki et al (1998) and Kabi et al (2005). However, the fiber content was similar.…”

Section: Chemical Composition Of Feedscontrasting

confidence: 59%

Intake, growth and carcass yield of indigenous goats fed market wastes of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) vines and scarlet eggplant (Solanum aethiopicum)

Katongole

Bareeba

Sabiiti

et al. 2009

Intake, growth and carcass yield of indigenous goats fed basal diets of market wastes of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) vines (SPV) and scarlet eggplant (Solanum aethiopicum) (SEP) were examined in two experiments. In experiment I, the effect of presentation method (chopping, hanging or adding molasses) on the intake of SEP and SPV was evaluated. Presentation method did not influence the intake of SPV while hanging resulted in the highest (P < 0.05) intake of SEP. In experiment II, 24 male growing goats were supplemented with a concentrate (25% cottonseed cake +75% maize bran) in four dietary groups: SEPD, SPVD, SEP+SPV and Control where elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) was offered as the roughage. SEP were offered by hanging, while SPV were chopped. The goats were slaughtered after 12 weeks of feeding. Goats in the SEPD group constantly lost weight, hence were not followed to the end. Average daily gain and hot carcass weight were highest (P < 0.05) in the SPVD group (44 g/d and 8.4 kg, respectively), but similar between the SEP+SPV (19 and 6.8) and Control (21 and 6.9) groups. In conclusion, SPV can support goat meat production where standard feed resources are scarce when fed with an energy-protein concentrate. SEP are poorly consumed by goats, hence cannot be used as their sole basal feed.