EFFECTS OF SOLE AND MIXED GRASSES/LEGUMES SILAGE ON NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITY AND NITROGEN BALANCE OF YANKASA RAMS

Authors

  • S. A. Abubakar Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State-Nigeria.
  • M. Y. Ahmed Federal University of Education, Kano
  • M. U. Ibrahim Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
  • M. I. Ibrahim Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
  • S. K. Lawan Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
  • S. S. Sani Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.

Keywords:

Nitrogen Balance, Nutrient Digestibility, Yankasa Rams, Silage

Abstract

The study was aim to evaluate apparent nutrient digestibility and nitrogen balance on growing Yankasa rams at National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Shika,. Rams averagely weighing 21.5kg were fed a basal diet of sole maize (SM), sole elephant grass (SE), maize lablab (ML),

maize mucuna(MM), elephant grass lablab (EL) and elephant grass mucuna (EM) and silages with concentrate supplement (1%) of their body weight for a period of 90 days and 21 days digestibility studies in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Rams fed ML recorded significantly higher (P<0.05) DMD (67.95%), CPD (66.12%)

and OMD (56.12%) and sole maize recorded the lowest DMD and CPD. However, significantly (P<0.05) higher ADFD and EED was obtained in EL (80.78%) and EM (80.22%) respectively. Rams fed SM silage recorded lowest NDFD and ADFD. Result on nitrogen balance obtained reveal that significantly (P<0.05) higher nitrogen

intake was recorded in rams fed with EL but rams offer EM feed recorded higher N retained (23.35g/day) and nitrogen retained as percentage intake (68.85%) in their body compared to other treatments and were significantly different.

Author Biographies

S. A. Abubakar, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State-Nigeria.

National Animal Production Research Institute

M. U. Ibrahim, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.

National Animal Production Research Institute

M. I. Ibrahim, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.

National Animal Production Research Institute

S. K. Lawan, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.

National Animal Production Research Institute

S. S. Sani, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.

Institute of Agricultural Research

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Published

2025-03-20

How to Cite

Abubakar, S. A. ., Ahmed, M. Y. ., Ibrahim, M. U. ., Ibrahim, M. I. ., Lawan, S. K. ., & Sani, S. S. . (2025). EFFECTS OF SOLE AND MIXED GRASSES/LEGUMES SILAGE ON NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITY AND NITROGEN BALANCE OF YANKASA RAMS. Nigerian Journal of Animal Production, 1495 1499. Retrieved from https://mail.njap.org.ng/index.php/njap/article/view/8792

Issue

2025: Proceedings 2025

Section

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