Nutrient Digestibility and Nitrogen Retention by Red Sokoto Bucks fed Urea-Molasses Treated Maize Cob Supplemented with Different Protein Sources

Abstract

The study evaluated the nutrient digestibility and nitrogen retention by Red Sokoto bucks fed urea-molasses treated maize cob supplemented with different protein sources. Twelve (12) Red Sokoto bucks were randomly allotted to four (4) dietary treatments containing treated maize cob with cotton seed cake (CSC), poultry litter (PL), rosell seed cake (RSC), and brewers dried grain (BDG), respectively with four bucks per treatments in a completely randomized design. The maize cob was treated with 2% urea and 5% molasses and ensiled for a period of 2 weeks. The result of chemical analysis showed that treatment of maize cob with urea-molasses increased its crude protein content and decreased the neutral detergent fibre content. Nutrient digestibility varied (P<0.05) across the treatments. Dry matter and crude protein digestibility were higher (P<0.05) in bucks fed CSC diet (95.24%, 91.88%) and PL diet (92.40%, 86.77%), compared to other treatments. Organic matter digestibility was higher in bucks fed CSC (88.28%) diet and least in bucks fed PL (77.43%) diet. Crude fibre digestibility was different (P<0.05) with highest value in animals fed CSC (83.72%) diet. Nitrogen intake was higher (P<0.05) and better in bucks fed CSC (6.84g/day) and RSC (5.98g/day) diets compared to other treatments. Nitrogen absorbed and retained were similar (P<0.05) in bucks fed CSC (3.12 and 2.36g/day) and RSC (2.97 and 2.19g/day) diets with the least value in bucks fed PL (1.95 and 0.62g/day) diet. Conclusively, diets containing urea-molasses treated maize cob with CSC gave better digestibility and nitrogen retention. Farmers should treat maize cob with urea at 2%, molasses at 5% and supplement with CSC for better  feeding value.