EFFECTS OF ANTI-NUTRITIONAL CONTENTS OF LEGUME ON PELLETS QUALITY, INTAKE AND RUMEN MICROBIAL COMMUNITY OF RAMS FED Megathyrsus maximus

• V. O. A. Ojo

  Department of Pasture and Range Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria.

  Author

• O. O. Adelusi

  Department of Animal Nutrition, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria.

  Author

• O. J. Idowu

  Department of Pasture and Range Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria.

  Author

• S. A. Adeoye

  Department of Pasture and Range Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria.

  Author

• R. O. Tanimowo

  Department of Pasture and Range Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria.

  Author

• D. K. Oyaniran

  Department of Pasture and Range Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria.

  Author

• T. A. Adeyemi

  Agri-Food Business Management Program, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Estonia

  Author

This study investigated the anti-nutritional contents effect on supplementation of either the pellet of Lablab purpureus (LP), Calopogonium mucunoides (CM), Mucuna pruriens (MP) pellets or not supplemented (i.e. the control) on pellets quality, intake and the rumen microbial community of West African dwarf (WAD) sheep fed basal diet of Megathyrsus maximus for a period of 84 days. The WAD rams with an average body weight of 12.43 ± 0.5 kg were divided into four groups of five animals each in a Completely Randomized Design. The diets were chemically analysed and their anti-nutritional contents effects as supplements on the ram's intake, digestibility and rumen microbial contents were determined. The legume pellets were high in CP, EE and low in fibre contents and their use increased dry matter intake (758.84 - 968.97 g.d-1(MP)); crude protein intake ( 71.71 - 105.80 g.d-1 DM (MP)); dry matter digestibility (60.58 – 76.79 % (LP)); crude protein digestibility (62.46 - 82.61% (LP)); reduced rumen protozoa; and increased rumen fungi, amylolytic, proteolytic and cellulolytic bacteria counts in the rams. It can be concluded that the supplementation of herbaceous forage legumes pellets was capable of improving nutrient utilization of WAD rams through improved nutrient composition and alteration of rumen microbial community than sole feeding with grasses.

1. V. O. A. Ojo, Department of Pasture and Range Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria.

   Department of Pasture and Range Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria.

2. O. O. Adelusi, Department of Animal Nutrition, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria.

   Department of Animal Nutrition, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria.

3. O. J. Idowu, Department of Pasture and Range Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria.

   Department of Pasture and Range Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria.

4. S. A. Adeoye, Department of Pasture and Range Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria.

   Department of Pasture and Range Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria.

5. R. O. Tanimowo, Department of Pasture and Range Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria.

   Department of Pasture and Range Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria.

6. D. K. Oyaniran, Department of Pasture and Range Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria.

   Department of Pasture and Range Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria.

7. T. A. Adeyemi, Agri-Food Business Management Program, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Estonia

   Agri-Food Business Management Program, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Estonia

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