ABSTRACT
A 120
day feeding trial was conducted to assess the feed value and utilization
ofPanicum maximum (PM) and Pennisetum purpureum (PP) by pregnant WAD ewes. The
nine inewes, in their first pregnancy, averaging 12 months and 11.16 kg of age
and weight respectively, were divided into 3 equal groups of 3 animals per
group and subjected to 3 different nutritional regimens in a Completely
Randomized Design. Diets B and C constituted forage grasses PM and PP
respectively while diet A was a 13.5% CP concentrate diet formulated from maize
and wheat offals, palm kernel cake, bone meal and salt. The diets were offered
to the experimental animals in a cafeteria arrangement. The three animal groups
(1-3) received 600gm of the concentrate diet (A) per animal at 09:00hrs daily
while groups 2 and 3, in addition, were fed 1 kg of fresh PM and PP
respectively at 12:00hrs daily clean water was offered adlibitum. Parameters
investigated were weight gain, blood profile and apparent nutrient
digestibility of the diets. Results showed that average daily feed intake (g/d)
(ADFI) was highest for treatment 2 (912.41) and this differed significantly
(P<0.05) from values obtained for treatmentsl (557.70) and 3 (855.41). Average
daily weight gain (g/d) (ADWG) was highest for treatment 3 (55.83), followed by
treatments 2 (35.25) and 1 (25.56); these values differed (P<0.05)
significantly. Feed conversion ratio was least for ewes supplemented with PP
(15.32). The corresponding values for ewes supplemented with PM (25.88) and
those fed solely on concentrate diet (21 82) were similar (P>0.05) but
differed (P<0.05) from that of treatment3. Haematological and biochemical
blood profile of non pregnant ewes fell within normal range. However packed
cell volume (%), red blood cell (xlOG/pl) and white blood cell (xl03/pl)
haematological values for pregnant ewes were influenced by dietary regimen. The
values were 1.73, 1.37, 1.77; 26.0, 23.67, 28.0 and 3.23, 3.23, 3.43 for
treatments 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Serum biochemical profile of the pregnant
ewes differed significantly (P<0.05) for total bilirubin, serum glutamic
oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT),
total protein, urea and creatinine. Digestibility coefficients (%) differed
(P<0.05) for dry matter (DM), crude fibre (CF), ether extract (EE), nitrogen
free extract (NFE) and ash DM and EE were best digested in treatment 1 with
digestibility coefficients of 85.65 and 94 66, respectively; so were CF
(89.67), EE (95.19) and NFE (93.04) in treatment 2 and CF (90.17) and NFE (93
54) in treatment 3. Generally pregnant ewes fed concentrate diet with PM and PP
supplementation had enhanced body weight relative to those fed only on
concentrate diet. However, PP supplemented in-ewes had superior ADWG, stable
blood profile and high apparent nutrient digestibility coefficients
AMARACHI, M (2024). Utilization Of Grass Forages By Pregnant West African Dwarf (Wad) Ewes: Influence On Dam Weight, Blood Profile And Apparent Nutrient Digestibility:-Njoku, Amarachi M.. Mouau.afribary.org: Retrieved Sep 08, 2024, from https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/utilization-of-grass-forages-by-pregnant-west-african-dwarf-wad-ewes-influence-on-dam-weight-blood-profile-and-apparent-nutrient-digestibility-njoku-amarachi-m-7-2
MERCY, AMARACHI. "Utilization Of Grass Forages By Pregnant West African Dwarf (Wad) Ewes: Influence On Dam Weight, Blood Profile And Apparent Nutrient Digestibility:-Njoku, Amarachi M." Mouau.afribary.org. Mouau.afribary.org, 26 Mar. 2024, https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/utilization-of-grass-forages-by-pregnant-west-african-dwarf-wad-ewes-influence-on-dam-weight-blood-profile-and-apparent-nutrient-digestibility-njoku-amarachi-m-7-2. Accessed 08 Sep. 2024.
MERCY, AMARACHI. "Utilization Of Grass Forages By Pregnant West African Dwarf (Wad) Ewes: Influence On Dam Weight, Blood Profile And Apparent Nutrient Digestibility:-Njoku, Amarachi M.". Mouau.afribary.org, Mouau.afribary.org, 26 Mar. 2024. Web. 08 Sep. 2024. < https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/utilization-of-grass-forages-by-pregnant-west-african-dwarf-wad-ewes-influence-on-dam-weight-blood-profile-and-apparent-nutrient-digestibility-njoku-amarachi-m-7-2 >.
MERCY, AMARACHI. "Utilization Of Grass Forages By Pregnant West African Dwarf (Wad) Ewes: Influence On Dam Weight, Blood Profile And Apparent Nutrient Digestibility:-Njoku, Amarachi M." Mouau.afribary.org (2024). Accessed 08 Sep. 2024. https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/utilization-of-grass-forages-by-pregnant-west-african-dwarf-wad-ewes-influence-on-dam-weight-blood-profile-and-apparent-nutrient-digestibility-njoku-amarachi-m-7-2