Journal of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine

JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE AND VETERINARY MEDICINE
Integrity Research Journals

ISSN: 2536-7099
Model: Open Access/Peer Reviewed
DOI: 10.31248/JASVM
Start Year: 2016
Email: jasvm@integrityresjournals.org

Submit Manuscript

Physiochemical qualities and digestibility of ensiled Ficus lyrata leaves with varying proportions of cowpea husks fed to Red Sokoto goats during the dry season

https://doi.org/10.31248/JASVM2024.447   |   Article Number: B935C16F6   |   Vol.9 (4) - August 2024

Received Date: 12 June 2024   |   Accepted Date: 30 July 2024  |   Published Date: 30 August 2024

Authors:  Sylva-Nyom, I.* , Mashi, A. M. , Dubagari, N. G. , Buba, M. D. and Gege, B. M.

Keywords: digestibility, silage, physiochemical, Cowpea husks, Ficus lyrata leaves

ABSTRACT

How to Cite Article
Full-Text PDF

This study was conducted to evaluate the physical properties, chemical compositions and digestibility of ensiled Ficus lyrata leaves with varying proportions of cowpea husks fed to Red Sokoto goats. The fresh leaves and soft stalks of Ficus lyrata were harvested around September and wilted for 12 hours before being chopped to 2-3cm particle size. The chopped forage were then mixed with cowpea husks at 0%, 20% 40% and 50%, and 50cl honey sludge for all treatments. The silages were ready on different days. T1 was ready on day 35 followed by T2 on day 42. T3 and T4 were completely fermented at day 56. All silages had pleasant smell, sweet vinegar taste, smooth texture and colour ranging from olive green to yellowish green. Temperature range obtained (32-36⁰C) while pH range was between 4.1-4.6. DM contents were between 41.52- 45.35%.  CP varied from 12.54-14.15% and increased with increased proportion of cowpea husks. CF ranged between 23.32-23.93% and increased as the cowpea proportion increased. EE varied among treatments (T1, =3.78%, T2=2.96%, T3=3.07%, T4=3.42%). Ash content (9.62-12.09%) increased as cowpea proportion increased. The NDF content of the silages ranged from 46.41-50.74%. Minerals investigated were Ca (1.93-33.22%), P (0.19-0.40%), K (1.00-1.41%), Na (0.84-1.10%), Mg (0.25-0.60%) and iron (32.1-35.8ppm). Digestibility parameters investigated included dry matter intake (298.36-300.51g/d), nitrogen balance (6.97-8.44g/d) and apparent digestibility (78.31-84.97).

Ahamefule, F. O., Ibeabuchi, J. A., & Ibe, S. N. (2006). Nutrient intake and utilization of pigeon pea-cassava peel based diets by West African Dwarf bucks. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition, 5(5), 419-424.
https://doi.org/10.3923/pjn.2006.419.424
 
AOAC (2000). Association of Analytical Chemists. Official Methods of Analysis, 17th ed. Association of Analytical Chemists. Washington, DC. USA.
 
ARC (1984). The nutrient requirements of livestock. Agricultural Research Council. Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux. Slough, England.
 
Babayemi, O. J., & Igbekoyi, A. J. (2008). Ensiling pasture grass with pod of browse plant is potential to solving dry season feed for ruminants in rural settlements of Nigeria. In: Tielkes, E. (ed.). Competition for resources in a changing world: New drive for rural development. Conference of the International Research on Food Security, Natural Resource Management and Rural Development, Tropentag, 7th -9th October, 2008.
 
Chiba, S., Chiba, H., & Yagi, M. (2005). A guide for silage making and utilization in the tropical regions. A publication of the Japanese Livestock Technology Association. pp 29.
 
Handa, V., Kumar, V., Panghal, A., Suri, S., & Kaur, J. (2017). Effect of soaking and germination on physicochemical and functional attributes of horse-gram flour. Journal of Food Science and Technology, 54(13), 4229-4239.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-017-2892-1
 
Jaybhaye, R. V., & Srivastav, P. P. (2015). Development of barnyard millet ready-toast snack food: Part II. Food Science Research Journal, 6(2), 285-291.
https://doi.org/10.15740/HAS/FSRJ/6.2/285-291
 
Jianxin, L., & Jun, G. (2002). Ensiling crop residues. In: Tingshuang, G., Sanchez, M. D., & Yu, G. P. (eds.). Animal production based on crop residues. Chinese Experiences. FAO Animal Health and Production Paper, (2002). Chapter 4, p. 149.
 
Joye, I. (2019). Protein digestibility of cereal products. Foods, 8(6), 199.
https://doi.org/10.3390/foods8060199
 
Lamidi, A. A., & Ingweye, J. N. (2020). Physiochemical quality and nutritional value of ensiled fresh maize stover and groundnut haulms in wet season for sustainable ruminant production. Nigerian Journal of Animal Production, 47(6), 141-152.
https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.v47i6.2920
 
Lamidi, A. A., & Ologbose, F. I. (2014). Dry season feeds and feeding: A treat to sustainable ruminant animal production in Nigeria. Journal of Agriculture and Social Research, 14(1), 18-31.
 
Lamidi, A. A., Etela, I., Ingweye, J. N., Ugbebor, G. G., & King, R. N. (2021). Physical qualities and chemical composition of ensiled Panicum maximum with different proportions of Calopogonium mucunoides for sustainable ruminant production. Proceedings of 26th Annual Conference of ASAN-NIAS, 5th-9th September, 2021, Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria. Pp. 390-394.
 
Lamidi, A. A., Etela, I., Ingweye, J. N., Ologbose, F. I., Osarobundo, E. N., & Ishiaku, Y. M. (2019) Nutrients profile and in vitro fermentation characteristics of Centrosema pascuorum at four different cutting regimes in Niger Delta, Nigeria. Proceedings of 3rd Biennial Conference of Society for Grassland Research and Development in Nigeria (SOGREDEN) Held at National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI) Shika-Zaria, Kaduna State. 3rd - 6th November, 2019. Pp. 92-99.
 
Mbatha, K. R. & Bakare, A. G. (2018). Browse silage as potential feed for captive wild ungulates in southern Africa: A review. Animal Nutrition, 4(1)1-10.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aninu.2017.12.003
 
Meissner, H. H., Viljoen, M. D., & Van Nierkeki, W. A. (1991). Intake and digestibility by sheep of Anthephora, Panicum, Rhode and Smuts finger grass pastures: Proceeding of the 4th International Rangeland Congress, September, 1991, Montpellier, France. Pp. 648-649.
 
Meneses, M., Megías, M. D., Madrid, J., Martínez-Teruel, A., Hernández, F., & Oliva, J. (2007). Evaluation of the phytosanitary, fermentative and nutritive characteristics of the silage made from crude artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) by-product feeding for ruminants. Small Ruminant Research, 70(2-3), 292-296.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2006.05.008
 
Ogunbosoye, D. O., Odedire, J. A., & Akinfemi, A. (2016). Silage characteristics and voluntary intake of ensiled maize residue- browse plants mixtures fed Red Sokoto Goats as dry season feedstuffs in Kwara State, Nigeria. International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology and Science, 4(1), 62-67.
 
Rimamchirka, T. (2019). Determination of mineral composition of coral flower (Daniellia oliver) and wild olive (Ximenia americana) as feed for ruminant animal. A national diploma project in the department of Agricultural Technology, Federal Polytechnic, Bali, Taraba State, Nigeria.
 
Sylva-Nyom, I. (2023). Estimation of fiddle leaf fig (Ficus lyrata) tree population in Bali Local Government, Taraba State for dry season feeding supplement in ruminants. In Proceedings of the 5th Annual National Conference of ASUP, Federal Polytechnic, Bali, Taraba State, Nigeria. 14th-17th August, 2023. Pp12-15.
 
Sylva-Nyom, I., Buba, M. D., & Mashi, A. M. (2022). Proximate composition, mineral assay and anti-nutritional factors of fiddle leaf fig (Ficus lyrata). In Proceedings of the 27th Annual Conference of ASAN-NIAS, 23rd -27th October, 2022, Bauchi, Bauchi State, Nigeria. Pp. 1127-1131.
 
Sylva-Nyom, I., Lamidi, A. A., Mashi, A. M., Mohammed, M. D., & Dubagari, N. G. (2024). Physiochemical properties of ensiled Ficus Lyrata with varying proportions of cowpea husks for dry season ruminant production. In Proceedings of the 49th Annual Conference of the Nigerian Society for Animal Production, 24th-27th March, 2024. University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Pp. 1544-1547.
 
Taraba State Government (2015). Climate Bulletin of Taraba State. Ministry of Environment, Jalingo, Taraba State.
 
Van Soest, P. J., Robertson, J. B., & Lewis, B. A. (1991). Methods for dietary fibre, neutral detergent fibre and non-starch polysaccharides in relation to animal nutrition. Journal of Dairy Science, 74(10), 3583-3597.
https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(91)78551-2
Copyright © 2026 Integrity Research Journals. All rights reserved.