International Journal of Animal Science, Husbandry and Livestock Production ISSN: 2141-5191 Vol. 6(4), pp. 312-321, May, 2020.  © Advanced Scholars Journals

Full length Research paper

Effect of cowpea haulm complementation on the intake and in vivo digestibility of Dactyloctenium aegyptium L. (Willd) in small ruminants in Sahelian zone, Ati-Chad

Azoutane J¹, Tendonkeng F^2*, Defang HF², Miegoue E², Lemoufouet J²,Mouchili M², Abdelrazik IA¹and Bechir AB¹.

¹University of Sciences and Technology of Ati (USTA), P.O Box: 20 Chad

*^2,2Animal Nutrition Laboratory, Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, University of Dschang, P.O. Box: 222 Dschang, Cameroon.

* Corresponding author E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 13 May, 2020.

Abstract 

A study of effect of cowpea haulms complementation on intake and in vivo of Dactyloctenium aegyptium in small ruminants was conducted in November 2018, at University of Ati, Chad. The intake and in vivo digestibility assessment of D. aegyptium in goats and sheep was the main objectives. Six rams and six goats aged between 20 and 24 months, weighing 31.83±3.02 and 28.62±2.97 kg respectively, were housed in metabolic cages. The first group received 1000g of D. aegyptium daily (DF₀), and the second group received the same quantity of DF0 +30% of cowpea haulms (DF₃₀). After 14 days of adaptation, data were collected during 7 days. The intake of DM (999g) and OM (834g) were significantly higher (p<0.05) in sheep with complemented diet (DF₃₀), except CF (247g).While control ration (DF₀) was significantly (p<0.05) more ingested by rams than goats. Comparable (p>0.05) effects was observed on DM (72.3%) and OM (70.9%) digestibility in goats with all rations. While the digestibility of OM (55.5%) and CF (76.1%) were significantly (p<0.05) higher in sheep with ration DF₃₀. Meanwhile, the digestibility of DM (61.0%) and OM (64.04%) of control ration were significantly (p<0.05) higher in goats, except for CF (76.92%). The same trend was observed in sheep with complemented ration (DF₃₀). Nitrogen intake was significantly (p<0.05) higher in both goats (8.53g) and sheep (6.68g). Fecal excretion (2.90g) and retained nitrogen (4.68g) were significantly (p<0.05) higher in goats with complemented ration (DF₃₀). Inversely, urine excretion (2.61g) and digestibility (50.89%) of nitrogen were significantly (p>0.05) higher in sheep receive complement (DF₃₀). Nitrogen digestibility (62.40%) was significantly (p>0.05) high in goats with ration DF₀, while cowpea haulm complementation enhanced a significant (p>0.05) digestibility of nitrogen in sheep. Therefore, the complementation with cowpea haulm increase intake and digestibility of D. aegyptium in small ruminants.

Keywords: Digestibility, Dactyloctenium aegyptium, complementation, Small ruminants, Sahel.