Intake, digestibility and nitrogen retention in goats fed ensiled maize stover and supplemented with snake bean (Bobgunnia madagascariensis) pod meal
2017
Francisco Kanyinji | Martha Ng’uni | Abraham Mulenga
Objective: The aim of this study was to assess nutrient intake, digestibility and nitrogen (N) retention in goats fed ensiled maize stover (EMS) when supplemented with snake bean (Bobgunnia madascariensis) pod meal (BMM). Materials and methods: Eight local goats (21±2 Kg) in individual metabolic cages were divided into two groups. One group received a 100 gm BMM daily supplement to basal diet (EMS+50 gm maize bran), while the other group did not receive any supplement. The experimental design was a 2x2 switchback with 7 days of adaptation and 5 days of sampling of orts, feces and urine. Feed intake was recorded and total fecal collection was done to analyze digestibility of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF), as well as N balance. Results: Goats receiving BMM supplement had higher (P<0.05) intake and digestibility of the analyzed nutrients than the group without supplementation. BMM supplementation also significantly increased N intake and fecal N output, compared to those without supplementation. BMM-supplemented goats had significantly better N retention than those without supplementation. Conclusion: Thus, supplementing BMM to goats fed EMS induced a higher (P<0.05) intake and digestibility of nutrients as well as better N retention. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2017; 4(2.000): 168-174]
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