Selection and evaluation of feedstuffs for urban and peri-urban small ruminant production systems in Ghana : a systems approach
Date
1994
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University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, CA
Abstract
The objective of this research was to develop a feed package for small ruminants in the urban centres of Ghana. A survey of 120 households indicated that cassava peels were the most abundant feedstuff. However, the level of nitrogen (1.02%) was inadequate to support optimum rumen flnction. The degradation of cassava peels and leaves of ficus, terminalia and chaya in the rumen was determined using the in sacco technique (Experiment 1). The respective rates of degradation of nitrogen fractions were 0.087, 0.052 and 0.133% h-1 (P<0.05). The ratios of nitrogen released from terminalia, ficus and chaya leaves to organic matter fermented from cassava peels during the first 12 h of incubation were; 1:60, 1:30 and 1:15.5, respectively. In Experiment 2, six wethers fitted with permanent rumen cannulae were fed cassava peels supplemented with either 0, 50, 100, 150, 200, or 250 g d-1 of ficus leaves. Supplementation increased (P<0.05) the potentially degradable fraction (55.9 to 68.2%) of dry matter (DM) in cassava peels. The corresponding value for ficus was 72.5 to 78.7%. In Experiment three, 48 individually housed wethers and ewe lambs, were fed cassava peels ad libitum and randomly allocated to one of six dietary supplements used in Experiment 2. Daily DM intake increased (P<0.05) from 44.0 g kg-1 LW0.75 (no supplement) to 81.2 g kg-1 LW0.75 (250 g d-1 of ficus leaves). Supplementation depressed apparent DM digestibility coefficients (78.1 to 73.9%, P<0.05). Animals which received 250 g d-1 of ficus leaves had the fastest growth rate (53.6 g d-1, P<0.05). Scanning electron microscopy was combined with electron dispersive x-ray analysis (EDXA) in Experiment 4 to study rumen microbial digestion of cassava peels and ficus leaves. The outer layer of cassava peels and epidermis of ficus leaves, except damaged regions were, resistant to microbial colonization and digestion. In digestible tissues, 4 h was close to initiation of digestion. EDXA of ficus leaf surfaces indicated that the entire epidermis was covered with silica. It was concluded from the series of studies that a successfiul small ruminant feeding system could be based on feeding cassava peels adlibitum and 200-250 g d-1 of ficus leaves. [Scientific formulae used in this abstract could not be reproduced.]
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Keywords
ANIMAL PRODUCTION, RUMINANTS, ANIMAL NUTRITION, GHANA, FEED, RURAL AREAS, GOATS, SHEEP, HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS, CROPS, EVALUATION