EVALUATION OF MIXED FUNGAL TREATED COWPEA HUSK AS FEED FOR GOATS

Abstract

Studies were conducted to access changes in the chemical composition and in vitro digestibility of mixed culture of Pleurotus ostreatus and P. florida in cowpea husk. The resultant substrates were oven dried and their chemical composition and in vitro digestibility determined using standard methods. The result obtained shows variation in their chemical composition and in vitro gas production characteristics. The Crude protein (%) ranged from 12.05 (T1) to 17.62 (T4), Crude fibre 27.08 (T4) to 39.01 (T1), Ether extract 3.88 (T1) to 11.08 (T2), Cellulose 17.22 (T2) to 24.88 (T1), Hemicellulose 17.22 (T2) to 24.88 (T1). The estimated organic matter digestibility, short chain fatty acid and metabolisable energy differed significantly (p<0.05). From the results obtained in this experiment, mixed fungal treatment influenced positively the potential of sorghum threshed top as feed for ruminants.