Omotoso Oluwatosin Bode, Onabanjo Olumide V, Fajemısın Adebowale Noah, Alokan Julius Adebayo
Net Zero and Resilient Farming, Rothamsted Research, North Wyke, Okehampton, UK.
Department of Animal Production and Health, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.
Trop Anim Health Prod. 2023 Apr 4;55(3):141. doi: 10.1007/s11250-023-03558-8.
Rams' productivity is integrally hinged on their nutrition/nutrients intake, and performance by these animals is predominantly dependent on dry matter intake. Hence, the experiment aims to evaluate the dietary effects of wilted and silages of Gmelina arborea and Panicum maximum forages at different proportions on nutrient digestibility, performance, blood components and ruminal fermentation characteristics of rams. P. maximum was substituted with G. arborea leaves at 100:0, 70:30 and 60:40, respectively and were allowed to wilt overnight, while equal proportions were ensiled for 2 days, designated as 100P(W), 70P:30G(W), 60P:40G(W), 100P(E), 70P:30G(E) and 60P:40G(E). Thereafter, the diets were fed to thirty West African Dwarf rams (5 rams, randomly allocated into each dietary treatment) for 56 days. Parameters measured included nutrients intake, nitrogen utilization, apparent digestibility, weight change, blood components, volatile fatty acids, rumen pH and temperature. From the results, G. arborea leaves and fermentation as a result of the silage significantly (p<0.05) improved nutrient composition, and invariably, all the parameters assessed. Highest CP (14.02%), DMI (765.06 g/day) and nitrogen retention (84.64%) was recorded for rams fed diet 60P:40G(E). The least acetic (23.69 mmol/100ml) and highest propionic (24.97 mmol/100ml) acid production was also recorded for rams fed 60P:40G (E) which suggests richness of the diet and enacted the activities of rumen microbes for efficient feed utilization. Further, their normal PCV (45%), WBC (13.70×10/L), RBC (14.02×10/L), haemoglobin (13.40 g/dL), MCV (32.10 fl/cell) and MCH (9.56 pg/cell) values indicated the diet is not detrimental to their health. Conclusively, P. maximum could suitably be combined with G. arborea leaves at 60:40 when ensiled, for improved ram production, and it's thus recommended.
公羊的生产性能完全取决于其营养物质的摄入，而这些动物的表现主要依赖于干物质摄入量。因此，本实验旨在评估不同比例的萎蔫辣木树叶和大黍青贮饲料对公羊营养物质消化率、生产性能、血液成分和瘤胃发酵特性的日粮影响。分别以100:0、70:30和60:40的比例用辣木树叶替代大黍，使其萎蔫过夜，而等比例的饲料青贮2天，分别标记为100P(W)、70P:30G(W)、60P:40G(W)、100P(E)、70P:30G(E)和60P:40G(E)。此后，将这些日粮喂给30只西非矮种公羊（每组5只公羊，随机分配到各日粮处理组），为期56天。测定的参数包括营养物质摄入量、氮利用率、表观消化率、体重变化、血液成分、挥发性脂肪酸、瘤胃pH值和温度。结果表明，辣木树叶和青贮饲料的发酵显著（p<0.05）改善了营养成分，以及所有评估参数。饲喂60P:40G(E)日粮的公羊的粗蛋白含量最高（14.02%）、干物质摄入量最高（765.06克/天）和氮保留率最高（84.64%）。饲喂60P:40G(E)日粮的公羊乙酸产量最低（23.69毫摩尔/100毫升），丙酸产量最高（24.97毫摩尔/100毫升），这表明日粮营养丰富，促进了瘤胃微生物的活性，从而实现了饲料的高效利用。此外，它们正常的红细胞压积（45%）、白细胞（13.70×10⁹/L）、红细胞（14.02×10¹²/L）、血红蛋白（13.40克/分升）、平均红细胞体积（32.10飞升/细胞）和平均红细胞血红蛋白含量（9.56皮克/细胞）值表明该日粮对其健康无害。总之，大黍与辣木树叶按60:40比例青贮，可以提高公羊的生产性能，因此推荐使用。
