GASSAVA-POULTRY DROPPING BLOCK: A FEED SUPPLEMENT FOR WEST AFRICAN DWARF SHEEP

Abstract

Feed blocks containing 45% of molasses (A) or cassava wastes (rind, peels, small tubers and some pulp) in substitution of 60(B), 80(C) or 100%(D) of molasses were offered as supplement to 16 West African dwarf sheep (1622.5kg initial, BW) fed ad libitum on panicum maximum bay during a 10- week period. Feed intake, digestibility and growth performance were studied in a completely randomized experimental design. All the urea and 40% of the palm kernel meal contained in the control molasses block (10 and 25%) were also replaced by caged I year droppings and shear butter cake in the cassava containing blocks (B, C and D). Each black as replicated twice with two animals per replicate. DM intake averaged 92,228,230 and 235gld for animal* -n blocks containing 0, 60, 80 and 100% cassava wastes. The energy intake rose (<0.05) with cassava substitution and was similar among cassava based blocks. The apparent digestibility of DM increased (0.05) to m 54 to 67% while the apparent digestibility of CP was greater (4. 0 5) f or, tocks B-D than for A (78, 84, 77 and 67% respectively). Mean body weight c h a w average -10, 57. 1, 60.5 and 87.2gld for sheep fed blocks, A,B,C and D respectively, while the feed: gain ratio W p highest for block D. Physical evaluation of bleb B, C and D compared favorably with block A while cost analysis revealed that blackly was the most profitable as regards cost of the feed per Kg weight gain. The results emphasized the need to substitute cassava wastes, caged layer droppings and shear butter cake for molasses and urea respectively in a situation where availability and method of utilization of molasses and urea are of vital consideration.