EFFECTS OF ENSILED ELEPHANT GRASS (Pennisetum purpureum) SUPPLEMENTED WITH RUMEN DIGESTA-BASED CONCENTRATE ON FEED INTAKE, DIGESTIBILITY, AND GROWTH OF DJALLONKÉ SHEEP IN THE SAVANNAH ECOLOGICAL ZONE OF GHANA.

Abstract

The study was conducted to assess the effects of ensiled elephant grass supplemented with rumen digesta-based concentrate on neutral detergent fibre digestibility, growth performance, and serum biochemistry profile of djallonké sheep. Nine (9) djallonké rams with an initial average body weight of (8.4±0.385kg) were randomly assigned to three treatments and replicated three times over 56 days in a completely randomized design (CRD). The treatments were T0 (free range), T1 (12.5% concentrate + 37.5% silage), and T2 (25% concentrate + 75% silage). The concentrate was formulated with 10% rumen digesta (DRD). Most chemical analysis on experimental diets were significantly different (p<0.05). Organic matter was higher in T0 while T1 and T2 were similar. Crude protein ranged from 100.7 -109.8 g/kgDM in this study. Neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre were lower in T0 as compared to T1 and T2. Most serum biochemistry parameters were significant (p<0.05). Urea, albumin, globulins, and total protein were higher in T0 compared to T1 and T2. All in vitro NDF digestibility parameters estimated in this study were not significantly different (p>0.05) across treatments. All growth performance parameters assessed differed (p<0.05) in this study. Animals on T0performed better than T1 and T2 while T1 and T2 had similar performance in this study. Average daily weight gain for T0, T1, and T2 was 107g, 68g, and 53g respectively. An average total weight gain of 6.00 kg, 3.83kg, and 3.00 kg was recorded for T0, T1, and T2 respectively in this study. The average daily dry matter intake recorded for T0, T1, and T2 was 114.1g, 62.8g, and 182.3g respectively. Supplementation of rams with DRD concentrate diet improve dry matter intake, with no adverse effect on blood biochemical indices but however, did not improve the weight gain of the rams. Farmers should supplement ensiled elephant grasses with a DRD concentrate diet to improve the nutritive value of the diet.