Bioresource Technology, Vol.67, No.1, 47-51, 1999
The effect of supplementation with Ficus leaves on the utilization of cassava peels by sheep
The objectives of this experiment were to determine the effects of dried Ficus exasperata leaves supplementation on voluntary feed intake, digestibility of nutrients and liveweight gain of sheep given ad libitum access to dried cassava peels. A total of 48 Djallonke wethers and ewe lambs (avg. wt 13.5 kg +/- 1.2 kg), housed individually and given ad libitum access to dried cassava peels were randomly allocated to one of six dietary treatments comprising 0, 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 g d(-1) of dried F. exasperata leaves. Supplementation increased (P<0.05) daily dry matter (DM) intake from 44.0 g kg(-1) LW0.75 for animals that received no supplement to 81.2 g kg(-1) LW0.75 for animals that received 250 g d(-1) of supplement. Digestibility coefficients of DM, organic matter and acid detergent fibre in the diets were depressed (P<0.05) as a result of supplementation. However, intake of the basal diet increased (P < 0.05) from 44.0 g kg(-1) LW0.75 d(-1) for control animals, to 55.1 g kg(-1) LW0.75 d(-1) for animals that received 200 g d(-1) of supplement. Animals which received 250 g d(-1) of leaves had the fastest growth rates (53.6 g d(-1)) followed by those that received 200 and 150 g d(-1) (P<0.05). Although the supplement was less digestible than the basal feed, it promoted a higher DM intake and growth rate, presumably due to the supply of nitrogen and other nutrients.
Keywords:DIGESTIBILITY;GROWTH