EFFECT OF VARIED INCLUSION LEVELS OF Parkia biglobosa pulp IN RED SOKOTO BUCKS ON INTAKE, DIGESTIBILITY AND NITROGEN BALANCE

Abstract

The work was carried out to study the intake and nutrient digestibility in Red Sokoto bucks fed graded levels of Parkia biglobosa pulp in a complete diet. 16 Red Sokoto bucks average weight 13.40kg +2 were randomly assigned into four groups with four bucks per group in a completely randomized design. Involving four dieting treatments T1, T2, T3 and T4 containing 0, 10, 20 and 30% levels of inclusion of Parkia biglobosa pulp. The proximate composition of the Parkia biglobosa pulp showed that the Parkia biglobosa pulp had 6.86, 11.98 and 64.16% of CF, CP and NFE respectively. The animals fed 20% Parkia biglobosa pulp had highest intake of almost the nutrients. The result indicated that the apparent digestibility of Dry matter (66.19%), crude protein (64.03%) and NFE 64.69%) was high (p<0.05) in animals fed 10% Parkia biglobosa pulp and had the best digestibility of almost all the nutrients. The highest Nitrogen retained as per cent of nitrogen intake 61.68% was obtained in animals fed 10% Parkia biglobosa pulp. It was concluded that DM intake, nutrient digestibility and nitrogen utilization of bucks can be enhanced by including 10% of Parkia biglobosa pulp in their diets.