Effect of mixed Gmelina and Moringa leaf meal inclusion on growing Red Sokoto does fed Digitaria smutsii hay based complete diets
Abstract
Gmelina arborea and Moringa oleifera (GMMO) leaf meal were combined at the ratio of 3:1 and included in the diets of Red Sokoto does at 0, 10, 20 and 30% to investigate the effect on dry matter intake, live weight and cost of feed in Digitaria smutsii hay based diets. Twenty-eight (28) growing Red Sokoto does aged between 6 and 7 months with average weight of 14.71±0.09 kg were randomly assigned to four treatments balanced for weight with seven does per treatment in a completely randomized design. The experimental diets were offered at 4% of body weight. Cost of feeding was studied to determine the cost effectiveness of GMMO leaf meal inclusion in the diets. Results indicated that inclusion of GMMO leaf meal significantly (P<0.05) improved weight gain of Red Sokoto does. Animals fed dietary treatments containing 10% and 20% of GMMO leaf meal had significantly (P<0.05) higher weight gain (3.30kg and 3.38kg) than animals on 30% inclusion level. The feed cost/kg gain ranged from N 326.75 in 20% followed by N354.59, N 441.74 and N518.30 in 10%, 30% and 0%, respectively. The cost-benefit analysis showed that at 20% GMMO leaf meal inclusion, cost of feed/kg gain was reduced by 36.96% and gave more profit. The GMMO leaf meal inclusion did not have any adverse effect on Red Sokoto does. It can be concluded that mixed Gmelina and Moringa leaf meal can be included at 20% in diets of Red Sokoto does for improved dry matter intake, average daily weight gain and profitability.
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Introduction
Small ruminants form an integral part of the livestock economy in Nigeria. The arid and semi-arid areas are home to over 80% of small ruminants and their sustenance is reducing due to dependence on natural pastures (Kosgey et al., 2008). They support 46-58% of pastoral households and playa significant role in the food chain and overall livelihoods of rural households, where they are largely the property of women and their children (Lebbie, 2004).
Dry season feeding of ruminants inmost tropical areas has always been a problem for farmers since little good pasture exists during this period. At this time, the performances of these animals are seriously impaired. One possible way to alleviate this problem and maintain production in the tropics is to feed them with crop residues and browse plants. These feed resources are not consumed by man but can be converted by ruminants into animal products desirable as human food. This therefore reduces total cost of animal production without a decrease in productivity and also maintains efficient feed utilization. Browse plants have great potential as source of high quality nutrient for ruminants, being high in protein, minerals and vitamins (Amodu and Otaru, 2004). They are available all year round because of their drought resistance, persistence, vigorous growth, re-growth and palatability (Crowder and Chheda, 1982). The use of browse plants as supplement has been shown to enhance intake, improve growth rate and increase reproduction in ruminants (Lamidi et al., 2009; Okafor et al., 2012; Abdu et al. 2012).
Moringa is one of the most promising plants which could contribute to increased intake of some essential nutrients and health-promoting phytochemicals. It has a high crude protein content ranging from 20-26% CP in leaves (Ben Salem et al., 2004 and Asaolu et al., 2011) with negligible contents of anti-nutrients (Makkar and Becker, 1996). Gmelina arborea Roxb. (Family verbenanceae) is a fast growing deciduous tree that can grow up to 40 mtall and 140 cm in diameter (Jensen, 1995). Even though Gmelina arborea can shed some of its leaves when the dry season is approaching, the regrowth of new leaves could serve as animal feed during the dry season (Osakwe and Udeogu 2007). The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of mixed Gmelina and Moringa (GMMO) leaf meal inclusion levels on growing Red Sokoto does fed Digitaria smutsii hay based diets.
Conclusion
The study showed that mixed Gmelina and Moringa leaf meal inclusion in diets of Red Sokoto does improved dry matter intake, weight gain and profitability. The cost-benefit analysis showed that fed 20% GMMO leaf meal gave more profit and reduced cost of feed/kg gain by 36.96% in the diets of Red Sokoto does. It was therefore concluded that GMMO leaf meal be included at 20% in diets of Red Sokoto does for improved feed intake, weight gain and profitability.
