Chemical constituent and free choice intake of ensiled Albizia saman pods with cassava peels by Bunaji cattle in the humid zone of Nigeria

Abstract

The study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition and the free choice intake of ensiled Albizia saman pods with cassava peels by Bunaji bull in the humid zone of Nigeria. Albizia saman pods (AsP) and cassava peels (CsP) were ensiled in differing proportions and used as diets 1 (75% AsP + 25% CsP), II (50% AsP + 50% CsP) and III (25% AsP + 75% CsP) for 30 days. Silage characteristics (temperature, colour, aroma, texture and pH) were examined. The dry matter (DM) and its contents of ash, crude Protein (CP), crude fibre, ether extract, neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL) were analyzed using the standard procedure, while feed preference by Bunaji cattle was assessed using coefficient of preference technique. The colour of the silages was dark-brown, odour was alcohol and fruit while the texture was firm. The pH values ranged between 3.55 and 4.46, temperature ranged from 30 to 32 ^ºC. DM, ash, CP, crude fibre, ether extract, NDF, ADF and ADL were in the range of 42.1-69.9%, 4.3-7.0%, 11.4-16.9%, 7.7-10.0%, 36.2-48.0%, 23.9-30.0% and 8.2-13.8% respectively. All the silages in each treatment were acceptable as CoP was above unity. The good quality and chemical composition of the silages from Albizia saman pods and cassava peels as well as its good acceptability to Bunaji bulls showed that the silages could be used as a supplementary diet to ruminants, especially during the dry season period.