NITROGEN BALANCE OF WEST AFRICAN DWARF SHEEP FED VARYING FICUS THONNIGII AS A REPLACEMENT FOR BREWER’S DRIED GRAIN
Abstract
Nitrogen balance of West African dwarf sheep fed varying Ficusthonnigiias a replacement for brewer’s dried grain was investigated. Four treatments were formulated (T1 - 0% Ficusthonningii and 60% brewer’s dried grain, T2 – 20% Ficusthonningii and 40% brewer’s dried grain, T3 – 40% Ficusthonningii and 20% brewer’s dried grain, T4 – 60% Ficusthonningii and 0% brewer’s dried grain) and replicated thrice. The experiment was analyzed using completely randomized design. The parameters evaluated were crude protein, ether extract, nitrogen absorbed and nitrogen retention. The 0% F. thonningii and 60% brewer’s dried grain (T1) had highest crude protein (28.86%) and ether extract (7.17%) while 20% F. thonningii and 40% brewer’s dried grain (T2) and 40% F. thonningii and 20% brewer’s dried grain (T3) had similar higher dry matter (95.87 and 96.01, respectively) and nitrogen absorbed (73.35 and 75.96%). The T2 had highest nitrogen retention (68.30%). It can therefore be recommended that feeding 20% F. thonningii and 40% brewer’s dried grain (T2) to West African dwarf sheep will enhance nutrient utilization, thus ruminant quality feeding in dry season is alleviated.
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