Rumen dry matter degradability of Yankasa rams fed <i>Brachiaria ruziziensis</i> (<i>Congo grass</i>) hay with different supplements

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine rumen dry matter degradability of Brachiaria ruziziensis (Congo grass) by cannulated Yankasa rams fed different supplements (maize offal, wheat offal, groundnut hay). The research was carried out at Polycon Research farm, Federal Polytechnic Bauchi. Four (4) cannulated Yankasa rams were used for the study, each animal was replicated three times. In-sacco method involving small nylon bags containing experimental diets were inserted into the rumen of the cannulated rams at 0 hour, with inspection at 6, 12, 18 and 24 hours. Three (3) nylon bags marked with different colours containing different treatment diets were inserted into the cannula of the rumen to test for degradability, the small nylon bags were removed at different hours (6, 12, 18 and 24 hours, respectively) to test their degradability. The supplementary treatment diets were wheat offal (WO), Maize Offal (MO) and Groundnut Hay (GH) while Brachiaria ruziziensis was fed as basal diet. The rumen degradability showed significant difference (P<0.05) across the treatments at different hours. Results from this study showed that MO had the highest value (P<0.05) at 0 (27.20%), 6 (36.75%), 12 (38.62%) and 18 (46.15%) hours. However, WO had the highest value (64.72%) at 24 hours, but the value  obtained was similar with 61.32% obtained for rams fed maize offal supplement. It was concluded from the result of this study that treatment T (Brachiaria ruziziensis + Maize offal) had the best rumen degradability. It 2 is therefore,  recommended that maize offal should be supplemented  with Brachiaria ruziziensis hay at 370g/day for better rumen degradability in ruminant animals.

Keywords: Yankasa rams, Nylon bag, Congo grass, Brachiaria ruziziensis, Degradability