http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/32 Sat, 04 Apr 2026 08:33:29 GMT 2026-04-04T08:33:29Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/2384 YIELD AND NUTRITIONAL EVALUATION OF FOUR GRASSES INTERPLANTED WITH LABLAB (Lablab purpureus L.) FOR WEST AFRICAN DWARF GOATS TAIWO, Titilola Olufisayo Natural grasslands which supply the bulk of ruminant feeds are characterised by low yield and lignified forage. Sown grasses interplanted with legumes yield fodder with better quality compared to forage harvested from the wild. However, there is limited information on the effect of interplanting high yielding grass varieties with legumes on Biomass Yield (BY) and nutritional quality. Therefore, effect of interplanting Chloris gayana (Chloris), Panicum maximum (Panicum), Brachiaria ruziziensis (Brachiaria) and Brachiaria mulato II (Mulato) with Lablab purpureus (Lablab) on BY and feeding value of their silages in West African Dwarf (WAD) goats were investigated. In a split-plot arrangement, Chloris, Panicum, Brachiaria and Mulato were planted sole and interplanted with Lablab in a randomised complete block design. At 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks post planting, BY (t/ha), Leaf to Stem Ratio (LSR), Leaf Length (LL, cm), Dry Matter (DM, %) and Neutral Detergent Fibre (NDF, %) of these grasses were determined using standard procedures. Twelve-week old Chloris, Panicum, Brachiaria and Mulato were ensiled with Lablab at 3:1 for 21 days and the silage colour, aroma and pH were measured. The silages were fed to WAD goats (n=20, weighing 8.82±0.10 kg) for 105 days and Percentage Preference (PP), Dry Matter Intake (DMI, g/d) and Total Weight Gain (TWG, kg) were measured. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at α0.05. Interplanting of the grasses with Lablab significantly increased BY from 5.36±3.04 to 6.85±2.64 (Chloris), 16.64±8.93 to 17.76±9.37 (Panicum), 7.15±3.49 to 8.36±3.72 (Brachiaria) and 15.41±9.10 to 17.19±8.01 (Mulato), respectively. The LSR of Lablab interplanted with grasses 0.73±0.31 (Chloris), 1.23±0.70 (Panicum), 1.31±0.24 (Brachiaria) and 1.19±0.03 (Mulato) were significantly higher than their sole sown (0.64±0.33, 1.14±0.61, 1.24±0.27 and 1.09±0.39, respectively). Grasses interplanted with Lablab showed an increase in LL from 69.33±3.18 to 81.11±4.59 (Chloris), 116.22±34.05 to 124.86±35.90 (Panicum), 49.29±10.27 to 57.34±10.11 (Brachiaria) and 74.59±9.14 to 84.79±11.34 (Mulato), respectively. The DM of Lablab interplanted grasses 37.77±4.82 (Chloris), 35.78±3.92 (Panicum), 44.33±4.71 (Brachiaria) and 39.68±6.09 (Mulato) was significantly higher than their sole sown (35.59±4.52, 33.66±4.46, 40.34±4.04 and 36.02±4.28, respectively). Lower NDF of 62.29±1.41, 63.07±1.52, 61.48±1.61 and 61.01±1.26 were observed in Lablab interplanted with Chloris, Panicum, Brachiaria and Mulato, respectively compared to 63.62±3.22, 64.04±2.73, 62.98±3.26 and 62.90±2.53 in sole sown. The BY, LL, DM and NDF increased, while LSR reduced with age. All the grasses produced good silages with olive green colour, aromatic smell and pH ranging from 4.26 to 4.55. The PP of WAD goats ranked Mulato-Lablab (25.44%) > Brachiaria-Lablab (25.25%) > Panicum-Lablab (24.95%) > Chloris-Lablab (24.35%). The DMI was similar for all treatments but TWG of 3.20±10.01 (Mulato-Lablab) was significantly higher than others, however, 3.01±6.98 (Brachiaria-Lablab) and 2.92±5.02 (Panicum-Lablab) were similar. Interplanting Lablab purpureus with Chloris gayana, Panicum maximum, Brachiaria ruziziensis and Brachiaria mulato II enhanced biomass yield. Silage produced with combination of the interplanted Lablab purpureus and the grasses improved body weight gain of West African Dwarf goats. Fri, 01 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/2384 2023-09-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/2382 ORANGE-FLESHED SWEETPOTATO ROOTS AS ENERGY AND PROVITAMIN A SOURCES FOR LAYING HENS OLADEJI, Deborah Dara Orange-fleshed Sweetpotato Root (OSR) is a potent energy feedstuff for laying hens due to its high energy and carotenoid content. However, OSR’s high perishability and dustiness in finished feeds are limitations, which could be addressed by high-temperature-short-time extrusion. There is scarce information on the effect of extrusion on the nutritional quality of OSR, the pigmenting abilities of OSR carotenoids and their interconversion to vitamin A in poultry. Therefore, this study was designed to assess the effect of extrusion on metabolisable energy of OSR-based concentrates, pigmenting abilities and the interconversion of OSR carotenoids to vitamin A in laying hens. Concentrates: OSR and Corn Bran at 3:2 (OSR-CB), extruded at 65-70℃ (Elow) and 100- 110℃ (Ehigh) in a single screw extruder, were assayed for Water Solubility Index-WSI, Water Absorption Index-WAI, and Provitamin A (PVA) carotenoids using standard procedures. Twenty-nine-week-old ISA Brown hens (n=96, 1.9±0.1kg) were randomly allotted to 12 diets containing unextruded, Elow and Ehigh OSR-CB each at 0, 10, 20 or 30% as substitute for glucose monohydrate, for seven days (r=4). The nitrogen corrected Apparent Metabolisable Energy (AMEn, kcal/kg) of the concentrates were estimated using standard methods. Carotenoid-depleted hens at 42-week-old (n=96, 2.2±0.1kg) were randomly assigned to White Maize-Soybean Meal (WM+SBM, control), WM+SBM + apo- ester, OSR-CB+SBM or Yellow Maize -SBM (YM+SBM) based diet in four replicates for 84 days. Eggs were collected for yolk quality assessment, PVA carotenoids (μg/g) and retinol (μg/100g) at day 0, 28, 56 and 84 using standard procedures. Liver was biopsied at day 0, 28, 56, and 84, and assayed for retinol (μg/g). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at ἀ0.05. Extrusion significantly decreased WSI by 4.05% (23.67±0.47) and 16.21% (20.67±0.47) in Elow and Ehigh OSR-CB, respectively, compared to unextruded OSR-CB (24.67±0.47). A significantly higher WAI of 5.39±0.21 was recorded in Ehigh OSR-CB, while unextruded and Elow OSR-CB were similar. The PVA carotenoids decreased significantly from 228.04±0.05 in unextruded OSR-CB to 152.32±0.16 in Elow and 148.37±0.53 in Ehigh OSR- CB. Extrusion significantly enhanced AMEn of Elow and Ehigh OSR-CB by 16.47% iv (4051.15±0.05) and 14.11% (3968.82± 0.06), respectively over unextruded OSR-CB (3478.13± 0.08). Colour intensity of egg yolk at day 28 ranked: 74.07±0.18 (WM+SBM + apo-ester) > 70.97±0.04 (YM+SBM) > 63.41±0.03 (OSR-CB+SBM) > 53.68±0.09 (WM+SBM), with similar trends at 56 and 84 days. The PVA carotenoids in egg yolk on day 84 was significantly higher in OSR-CB+SBM (2.80±0.04) and YM+SBM (1.13±0.02) than WM+SBM (0.52±0.03) and WM+SBM + apo-ester (0.33±0.02) fed hens. Egg yolk retinol increased by 709.56% (77.88±0.04) and 20.06% (11.55±0.03), in OSR-CP+SBM and YM+SBM fed hens, respectively compared to the control (9.62±0.08) at day 28, with similar trend at 56 and 84 days. Liver retinol at day 28 was significantly higher in OSR- CB+SBM (996.26±0.04) and YM+SBM (367.64±0.05) and similar in WM+SBM (136.30±0.02) and WM+SBM + apo-ester (126.80±0.06) fed hens with same trend observed at 56 and 84 days. Extruded Orange-fleshed sweetpotato root based concentrate at low temperature improved energy availability, egg yolk pigmentation and vitamin A in laying hens. Tue, 01 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/2382 2023-08-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/2380 EGG FERTILITY AND EMBRYO VIABILITY RESPONSES OF ARTIFICIALLY INSEMINATED LAYER BREEDER CHICKENS OLUJIMI, AYODEJI TIMOTHY Poor fertility and Embryo Mortality (EM) in breeder hens have been attributed to Natural Mating (NM) system adopted by farmers in breeder hens. Artificial Insemination (AI) could be a reliable alternative for use in chickens. However, AI protocols required for optimum fertility in layer breeders were scanty. Therefore, fertility and embryo viability responses of artificially inseminated layer breeder chickens were assessed. ISA Brown breeder hens (n=100, 1.9±0.3kg) and cocks (n=10, 2.5±0.4kg), 21-week old were used. Hens were randomly allotted to five treatments and were inseminated with 0.02 (T0.02), 0.04 (T0.04), 0.06 (T0.06) and 0.08mL (T0.08) of pooled semen/hen which contained 33×106, 66×106, 99×106, 132×106 motile spermatozoa, respectively. Hens in fifth group (TNM) were mated naturally. Both AI and NM were repeated for two consecutive days. Fertility was determined by standard method. Four groups of 25 hens each were inseminated with 0.02mL semen dose then repeated at three (D3), six (D6), nine (D9) and twelve days (D12) interval for twelve weeks. Fertility and EM were determined following standard procedures. Another batch of semen was divided into five portions: undiluted (US), diluted at 1:1, with either Modified Ringer Solution (MRS), 1% Dextrose Saline (DS), Sodium Citrate (SC) or Normal Saline (NS). In vitro assessment was done hourly at 27.6ºC till motility dropped below 50.0%. The treatments were inseminated into five groups of hens at D6 and D9 interval to assess fertility using standard procedures. The DS was divided into five portions: four portions were fortified with Carrot Juice (CJ) as extender at 25%(T25), 50%(T50), 75%(T75), 100%(T100), while DS served as control. The extenders were used to extend semen at 1:1 and evaluated hourly at 27.6ºC for Spermatozoa Motility (SM) and livability till motility was below 50%. In a 5×4 factorial arrangement, the treatments were inseminated into five groups of 20 hen at D6 interval. Fertility and EM were determined by standard procedures. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVAα0.05. The T0.02 (90.7%), T0.04 (95.0%), T0.06 (90.4%) and T0.08 (90.4%) significantly improved fertility than TNM (77.1%) in the first week. The efficient and maximum duration of fertile period were 7 and 21 days, respectively. Treatment D3 (91.8%), D6 (92.5%) and D9 (87.5%) improved fertility than D12 (67.6%), while D6 had the least EM (10.8%). The MRS (59.7%), DS (59.0%), and NS (60.0%) improved SM up to the third hours than SC (46.3%) and RS (46.7%). The MRS (82.5%), DS (85.3%) and NS (83.5%) improved fertility than SC (79.2%) and RS (75.5%) at D6 interval. The same trend was observed in D9 interval though fertility decreased across the treatments: MRS (68.5%), DS (68.4%), NS (60.1%), SC (57.2%) and RS (55.1%). Semen fortified with CJ sustained spermatozoa livability up to third hour than DS. Fertility significantly decreased as CJ in extender increased T25 (68.3%), T50 (61.3%), T75 (49.1%), T100 (35.3%) and DS (80.8%). Semen dose, spermatozoa age and days of insemination influenced fertility and embryo viability. Fertility in ISA brown was depressed with dextrose saline fortification using carrot juice. Mon, 01 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/2380 2023-05-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/2366 BIOMASS YIELD AND FEEDING VALUE OF MEGATHYRSUS MAXIMUS (Jacq.) INTERCROPPED WITH MUCUNA PRURIENS (Linn.) AND SPHENOSTYLIS STERNOCARPA (Harms) IN WEST AFRICAN DWARF SHEEP OMOTOSO, Sunday Oloruntoba Megathyrsus maximus (MM) is a valued grass for ruminant feeding but its crude protein and biomass yield are low. Intercropping MM with legumes is capable of improving its yield and crude protein content. However, information on biomass yield of MM intercropped with Mucuna pruriens (MP) and Sphenostylis sternocarpa (SS) and their preservation for ruminant is scanty. Therefore, effects of intercropping MM with MP and SS on biomass yield and crude protein of MM, and feeding value of their silages in West African Dwarf Sheep (WADS) were investigated. Using a randomised complete block design (r=3), MM was intercropped with MP and SS at spacing of 1m×1m in ratio 75MM:25MP (T1); 50MM:50MP (T2); 75MM:25SS (T3); 50MM:50SS (T4) and sole MM (T5). Biomass yield (t/ha) and crude protein (%) of MM at ages 4, 8 and 12 weeks were evaluated. In another experiment, harvested forages of 8, 10 and 12 weeks, with combination ratios: 100MM (SL1), 90MM:10MP (SL2), 80MM:20MP (SL3), 70MM:30MP (SL4), 80MM:10MP:10SS (SL5), 60MM:20MP:20SS (SL6), 40MM:30MP:30SS (SL7), 90MM:10SS (SL8), 80MM:20SS (SL9) and 70MM:30SS (SL10) were ensiled for 28 days. Butyric Acid (BA, mmol/mL) and ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N, %) of the silages and their acceptability by WADS using Preference Index (PI) were determined following standard procedures. In a feeding trial, seven silages: SL1, SL2, SL3, SL4, SL5, SL6 and SL7, based on lower BA, were prepared from eight weeks grass/10 weeks legumes and fed to 28 WADS for 105 days. Weight Gain (WG-g/day), Crude Protein Digestibility (CPD%) and Nitrogen Retention (NR-g/day) were assessed using standard procedures. After feeding trial, rumen liquor was collected and assayed for ruminal NH3-N (mg/100mL). Blood was sampled and analysed for Total Protein (TP-g/dL) and Serum Urea Nitrogen (SUN-mg/dL) following standard procedures. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at α0.05. Biomass yield of 11.93±1.91 (T5) and 10.94±1.17 (T1) were similar but higher than 8.65±0.82 (T2), 8.22±0.85 (T3) and 7.19±0.71 (T4) for MM. Biomass yield of MM was higher for 12-weeks than other ages at harvest. Crude protein of MM declined from 4 to 12-weeks at harvest. Crude protein of MM ranged from 8.60±0.07 (T5) to 9.62±0.04 (T4), with T4 significantly higher than other treatments. The BA of silage ranged from 1.35±0.12 (SL1) to 3.31±0.21 (SL10), while NH3-N varied from 8.24±0.14 (SLI) to 9.46±0.14 (SL7). Butyric acid and NH3-N of silages prepared from 4-weeks grass/8-weeks legumes were higher than other ages. The SL6 (PI=10.63) and silages of 8-weeks grass/10-weeks legumes and 12-weeks grass/legumes were preferred by the WADS. The WG varied from 17.62±1.62 (SL6) to 35.83±1.17 (SL2). The CPD varied from 84.87±0.04 (SL1) to 89.24±0.02 (SL3) and NR ranged from 12.33±0.08 (SL1) to 18.45±0.23 (SL7). Rumen NH3-N ranged from 8.57±0.09 (SL1) to 11.87±0.15 (SL7). The TP ranged from 5.30±0.06 (SL1) to 7.85±0.04 (SL5), while SUN varied from 16.22±0.14 (SL1) to 27.96±1.01 (SL6). Megathyrsus maximus intercropped with Mucuna pruriens or Sphenostylis sternocarpa at 50% improved crude protein of the grass, while Megathyrsus maximus ensiled with 10% Mucuna pruriens enhanced weight gain of West African dwarf sheep. Wed, 01 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/2366 2023-11-01T00:00:00Z