Biochemical Compositions of Rumen Content Fractions from Slaughter Cattle in North-Central Nigeria

Abstract

Abattoir wastes are major contributors to urban waste generation in Nigeria. Some of these wastes such as rumen digesta (RD) could serve as poultry feed raw material when properly processed. However, since nutrient content of RD is influenced by seasonal variations in feed types, there is the need to establish reference values needed for their use in poultry feeds formulation. This study determined the rainy season nutrient compositions of RD from Gwagwalada abattoir in Abuja, north-central Nigeria. Approximately 1 Kg each of reticulo-rumen (RR), omasum (OM), and abomasum (AB) contents of slaughtered cattle were collected from the abattoir in August 2015. The RR contents were further separated into their intact (IRC), liquid (LRC) and solid (SRC) components before subjection to proximate, calorific value, calcium and phosphorus analysis. The dry matter (DM) contents of RR, OM and AB digestas were 11.29, 19.41 and 8.49% respectively. Generally, the IRC was rich in crude protein (CP, 18.30±0.61%), total carbohydrate (TC, 65.24±1.41%), nitrogen free extract (NFE, 39.40±6.10%) and calorific value (CV, 384.15±6.10 kg/100g). LRC recorded significantly higher CP, ether extract and CV, and lower DM, crude fiber, TC and NFE values than IRC and SRC (p<0.05). Similarly, the LRC recorded significantly higher calcium, phosphorus and nitrogen values than the other RD fractions (p<0.05), indicating that removal of digesta fluid will lead to significant alterations in RD nutrient values. During processing therefore, there is the need to retain the nutrients in the liquid fraction of rumen digesta in order not to compromise its overall nutrient value.