Authors : O.S. Lamidi , A.T. Omokanye and D.D. Dung
Abstract: Two separate studies were conducted using mixtures of groundnut haulms and Gliricidia sepium in the proportions of 100:0, 90:10, 80:20 and 70:30 to study short term intake and degradability of the mixtures. In the first trial, short-term intake of the mixtures was evaluated for a period of 6 days using sheep while, in the second trial the mixtures were subjected to in sacco degradation for 48 hours using Ndama steers to determine dry matter degradability. The proximate analysis of the mixtures was also carried out. Crude protein and lignin concentrations in the mixtures increased with increasing level of Gliricidia sepium. Intake of the mixtures decline significantly (p<0.05) as the level of Gliricidia sepium in the mixture increased, the highest intake (9.70 g DM kg-4w0.75 h 1) was recorded for groundnut haulms alone, this was similar (p>0.05) to those containing 10% Gliricidia sepium. Refusal rates of the mixtures also increased significantly (p<0.05) as the proportions of Gliricidia sepium increased the mixtures. In sacco dry matter degradability (%) of the mixtures increased significantly (p<0.05) as the level of Gliricidia sepium increased in the forage mixtures. There was no significant (p>0.05) differences in dry matter degradability between forage mixtures containing 0 and 10% Gliricidia sepium.
O.S. Lamidi , A.T. Omokanye and D.D. Dung , 2006. Short-Term Intake and in Sacco Degradability of Mixtures of Groundnut Haulms and Gliricidia sepium by Ruminants in the Northern Guinea Savanna Zones of Nigeria. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 5: 1129-1132.