The effect of replacement of molasses with pineapple waste in multi-nutrient block on in vitro gas production and digestibility

Abstract

Pineapple waste can be a good replacement for molasses being easily sourced for; relatively cheaper among other nonconventional agro-industrial wastes and does not compete with man with man and other farm animals as source of feed. Thus, the study was carried out to evaluate the effect of replacement of molasses with pineapple waste in multi-nutrient block on in vitro gas production and digestibility. Four (4) different blocks in a completely randomized design (CRD) consisting of four (4) replacement levels of molasses with pineapple wastes (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%) were formulated thus: 0%P/30%M, 10%P/20%M, 20%P/10%M, 30%P/0%M respectively. Proximate composition of blocks was determined. 0.2g of feed block samples were incubated using rumen liquor from West African dwarf sheep as inoculum. Gas production at 3 hours intervals between 0 and 48 hours of incubation periods were recorded. Post incubation dry matter digestibility, organic matter digestibility, metabolizable energy, methane and short chain fatty acids were estimated at 24 hour period. Results showed that multi-nutrient blocks with 30% pineapple waste had highest (p<0.05) content of dry matter (49.60%), and ether extract (22.33%) but lowest (P<0.05) crude protein content. The gas production increased as incubation period progressed. Significant differences were observed (P<0.05) in gas production after 6 hours post incubation. Results showed that the in vitro methane production, metabolisable energy and organic matter digestibility reduced (P<0.05) at 20% and 30% levels of pineapple waste inclusion. Short chain fatty acid (SCFA) (0.12mmol), reduced at 30% level of inclusion. It is evident that replacement of molasses with pineapple wastes, as much as 20% might improve performance of the West African dwarf goats and reduce enteric methane gas production when feed block is offered.