The study was conducted to compare the effects of feeding Acacia auriculata (AA), Gmelina arborea (GA), Albizia lebbeck (AL) and Butryospermum parkii (BP) tree forages as a sole feed for Nigerian goats. Four goats (Yankasa) averaging one year and weighing 11.7±1.8 kg were used to measure the feed intake, digestibility and nitrogen balance. The leaves were offered ad libitum. Dry matter (DM) intakes were significantly different (P<0.05), with the highest on AL and GA (456.72 and 478.79 g/d respectively) and lowest on AA (155.01 g/d) with intermediate values for BP (207.65 g/d). Total intakes ofN were significantly different among the browse plants (P<0.05). Significantly higher intake was observed on BP (125.41 g/d), while statistically similar intake was recorded on AL and GA and least on AA. The lower N intake of 31.54 g/d was observed in AA. The result of the nutrients digestibility showed a significant difference in the nutrients digestibility (P<0.05). BP, GA and AL (80.56, 86.67 and 89.70 respectively) had significantly high digestibility, while AA had significantly lower DM digestibility (75.76). Also, the digestibility of organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP) and crude fiber (CF) followed similar pattern. Nitrogen balance showed significant difference (P<0.05) in fecal N output, AA had higher fecal N (16.76), followed by BP (12.42) and AL and GA had 9.95 and 7.70, respectively. Gmelina arborea, Albizia lebbeck and Butryospermum parkii have potential as protein supplement for Yankasa goats. تفاصيل المقالة

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding varying levels of Ficus sycomorus leaf forages as protein supplements to a basal diet of urea treated maize stover. Four Yankasa goats averaging one year and weighing 11.7±1.8 kg were used to measure the feed intake, digestibility and nitrogen balance. The basal diet (urea treated maize stover) was supplemented with 0 (T1), 50 (T2), 100 (T3) or and 150 (T4) g of fresh F. sycomorus leaves. The intake of the basal diet was significantly (P<0.05) affected by supplementation with browse foliage. T3 had significantly P, and 25.01 g/d for T1, T2, T3 and T4, respectively. Evaluation of Nitrogen retention as a percentage of intake followed a similar pattern. F. sycomorus has potential as a protein supplement and could be offered at 100g/day in growing goats fed urea treated low quality basal diets. تفاصيل المقالة

Greenhouse gases have been of serious global concern to environmentalists. Enteric ruminal fermentation and manure are seen to be responsible for global warming. Based on a better understanding of positive tan-nin effects on ruminant nutrition, the feeding value of browse trees and shrubs containing tannin, their roles on methanogenic rumen microbes in overcoming the production of enteric fermentation gases and the methods of efficient manure handling are presented in this review. تفاصيل المقالة

This study investigated the effects of the dietary supplementation of Zizyphus mauritianaleaf meal (ZLM) on the performance of Yankasa lambs. Twenty five lambs aged between 6 and 8 months were randomly divided into five groups of five animals each in a completely randomized design to receive supplementary diets containing 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40% ZLM as replacement for cotton seed cake in concentrate supplement to a maize stover basal dietfor a period of 120 days. Inclusion of ZLM in the supplement did not significantly (P>0.05) affect nutrient intake. There was a significant (P<0.05) depression on dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) digestibility, with 30 and or 40% increases in the level ofZLM inclusion in the supplementary diet. Feeding ZLM containing diets particularly at 30 and 40% levels significantly (P<0.05) influenced nitrogen utilization. Fecal nitrogen excretion significantly (P<0.05) increased with ZLM supplementation. Control (0%) and 10% level of inclusion had similar and significantly (P<0.05) lower fecal N loss (14.30 and 14.94 g/d), followed by 20% (15.42 g/d), with T4 and T5 having significantly (P<0.05) higher fecal N loss (22.04and 22.89 g/d). Urinary N loss was significantly higher (P<0.05) in lambs offered 0, 10 and 20% ZLM (10.88, 11.98 and 11.02, respectively)diets compared to 30% (10.06) and 40% (9.89) receiving higher levels of ZLM, which were significantly (P<0.05) lower. Nitrogen retention was highest in control (26.19), followedby 10 and 20% ZLM (24.42 and 24.14), which were similar and higher than 30 and 40% supplementations (17.15 and 15.97, respectively). Nitrogen retention as % of intake was highest (50.98%) in animals fed 0% and was least in 40% ZLM supplementation (32.75%). It was concluded that inclusion of ZLM in concentrate diet at 10-20% inclusion levels gave best result in terms of performance than when the leaf meal is included at higher levels to ram lambs. تفاصيل المقالة