Theses and Dissertations

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Theses and Dissertations (Animal Science)

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Browsing Theses and Dissertations by Author "Smith, O. B."

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    Factors Influencing Mineral Content and Utilization of Tropical Forages by Ruminants.
    (Obafemi Awolowo University, 1985) Kabaija, Ephraim M.; Smith, O. B.
    A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of season (wet/dry) and age of regrowth (3,6,9,12 weeks) on the mineral contents of two common browses - Gliricidia and Leucaena. Another study evaluated effect of season, age of regrowth (2,4,6,8, 10,12 weeks) and fertilizer application (with/ without) on the mineral contents of Guinea grass and giant star grass. With both browses and grasses, significant age of regrowth by season effects were observed, with K and P contents declining with age while Na, Ca and Fe contents increased, during either season. Fertilizer application in the grasses resulted in increased content of K and P while Ca and Mg contents declined. The herbage K, P and Cu contents were lower during the dry season while Zn, Fe and Mn contents were higher. Despite these fluctuations, the forages contained adequate amounts of all minerals for livestock requirements except for P, Na, Zn and Cu which were marginal to deficient. A subsequent study showed that P supplementation to lambs fed on Guinea grass hay improved both their performance and bone quality. Since these forages rapidly become fibrous, the effect of fiber level on mineral utilization was evaluated in 3 studies. Using the nylon bag technique, a higher rumen mineral release of 22.0% was obtained in 6 week old forage regrowth compared to that of 14.3% got in the more fibrous 12-week old regrowth. Mineral availability and absorption declined (P<0.01) as dietary fiber level increased. The results indicated dietary fiber to be one of the main factors influencing utilization of minerals by ruminants. Thus particular attention should be paid to mineral status of ruminants when feedstuffs such as standing hays or crop residues with high fiber content are fed.
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    Improving the Nutritive Value of Cocoa-Pod by Chemical Treatment.
    (Obafemi Awolowo University, 1985) Osafo, Emmanuel Lartey Kwame; Smith, O. B.
    Two 'In Situ' studies were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of cocoa-pod ash solutions (PAS) as an alkali for treating cocoa-pods. Feed intake and overall nutrient digestibility of PAS - treated cocoa-pod based diet by cheep and goats were evaluated in two separate trials. In a screening trial, 5g oven dried and untreated cocoa-pod (Upod) or cocoa-pod treated (1:1 volume/weight) with either 4 levels of NaOH, 2, 4, 6 and 8% or corresponding strengths of PAS, P2, P4, P6 and P8 were weighed into nylon bags (2* pore diameter) and incubated for 24 hours in the rumen of two cannulated adult dwarf sheep fed a 50% cocoa-pod diet. Results showed NDF, ADF and Lignin were reduced (P<.05) by increasing PAS or NaOH treatment. Both NaOH and PAS improved (P<.05) degradability of dry matter, NDF and ADF. The % Dry Matter Loss (EMI') were 25.9, 52.1, 54.4 and 55.2 for Upod, 8% NaOH, P6 and P8 respectively. A second trial to compare degradability of Upod, dewaxed cocoa-pod (DWH), 8% NaOH (N8), P6 and P8 treated cocoa-pod after 24 and 48 hour incubation revealed degradation of nutrients was improved by both PAS and NaOH treatment and the degradation was completed in 24 hours for alkali treated pods. A 50% cocoa-pod based diet in which cocoa- pod were either untreated (Upod) or treated with P8 (Test diet 1) were fed to 12 sheep and 12 goats. In a second trial, the cocoa-pods were treated with P2, P4, P6 PAS, and designated Test 2, Test diet 3 and Test diet 4 respectively. Results showed intake of test diet 1 was reduced (P< .05). Digestibility was however improved in both sheep and goats fed Test diet 1. Feed intakes improved when lower levels of PAS treated feed were fed in second trial. Water consumption and volume of urine were significantly higher in animals fed treated diets. These results suggest cocoa-pod ash solutions could be used as a solution for treating cocoa-pods and other fibrous feeds to enhance utilization by livestock.