ABSTRACTThe studies were conducted in NAPRI to assess two varieties of groundnut for forage and seed yield characteristics and the effect of feeding the haulms to Yankasa rams. The first experiment was on-farm which was conducted at Shika, and its neighbouring villages, to determine the effect of variety on pod, haulm, seed yields and shelling per cent. Ten farmers were randomly identified in these neighbouring villages given groundnut variety; SAMNUT-22, in early June. Two plots of 10mx10m size were set up per site The second experiment was on-station was conducted at NAPRI to evaluate the effect of varieties and sowing dates on pod, haulm yield number of pods plant1and leaf to stem ratio. Treatments consisted of factorial combinations of three different sowing dates (June, July and August) and two groundnut varieties (SAMNUT22 and Maizabo) laid out in a completely randomised block design with four replicates. In the third trial, fifteen Yankasa rams with an average live weight of 10.50kg +2 were used to study the effect of inclusion of haulm of two groundnut varieties in concentrate diets on growth performance of rams, blood and rumen metabolites, digestibility and utilisation of nitrogen. The rams were randomly assigned into three groups with five rams per group in a complete randomized design. The experimental diets consist of Digitaria smutsii hay as a basal diet which was fed adlibitum and concentrates which were supplemented with 10% of groundnut haulm of SAMNUT-22 and Maizabo were offered at the rate of 1% of body weight. The trial lasted for 90 days. Blood samples were collected before feeding and at 4, 8 and 12 hours post feeding. Total protein, blood urea and Ammonia nitrogen concentration were measured. Rumen liquor was collected at the end of growth trial. Liquor was collected before the morning feeding and at 4, 8 and 12 hours post feeding to determine Total Volatile Fatty Acids, blood urea nitrogen and nitrogen. Metabolism study was subsequently conducted using 9 animals from the growth trial. In the second trial twelve yearling Yankasa rams were used to study the effect of inclusion of haulm of two groundnutvarieties in concentrate diet on fattening Yankasa rams. The On-farm trial results revealed that SAMNUT-22 produced significantly (P<0.05) higher pod (5466.7kg/ha), haulm (11354.2 kg/ha) and seed yields (1069.6 kg/ha) than Maizabo (4129.2, 9000.0 and 1016.00 kg/ha, respectively ). While he On- Station trial results indicated that delaying of groundnut sowing till August resulted in a significant (P<0.05) decline in pod (4437.5 kg/ha), haulm yields (4687kg/ha) and number of pod plant-1 (25.77kg/ha), respectively. Results also revealed that, the late sowing (August) significantly (P<0.05) produced higher leaf to stem ratio yield (62.43%) than the early sowing June and July (48.05 and 49.33%, respectively). The result of growth trial showed that total Dry Matter Intake was highest for the rams fed diet containing 10% SAMNUTN22 (1113.23g) followed by 1102.28g for 10% Maizabo level of inclusion in the supplement. These results were similar (P>0.05) but significantly higher than 1043.59g obtained on rams in control diets. The live weight gain of the rams ranged from 5.74-6.2g/d and were statistically (P<0.05) different across the treatments. The high Ammonia Nitrogen (29.38 Mg/100ml) levels were recorded in rams fed 10% SAMNUT-22. Blood Urea Nitrogen values varied between1.4 and 9.3mg/100ml.The result of the fattening trial depicted that apparent digestibility of dry matter was higher (P<0.05) for animals fed 10%SAMNUT-22 (46.45g) and had the best digestibility of all nutrients and statistically different. Rams fed diets containing 10%SAMNUT-22 had highest nitrogen absorbed (2.14g), nitrogen balance (1.87g) and nitrogen retained as percentage of intake (52.36%) in their body compared to other treatments and were significantly different. The result of fattening trial indicated that highest ADG was obtained in rams fed 10% SAMNUT-22 (65.27g).The highest meat yield (5.5kg) was obtained in animals fed 10% SAMNUT-22. Therefore, it was concluded that early sowing enhanced positive response of pod yield (5875kg/ha), haulm yield (9750 kg/ha) and number of pod plant-1 (78.34 ), but delayed sowing enhanced leaf to stem ratio (62.43% ) thus, it can positively improve mixed crop-livestock farming system. It was concluded fromthe growth and fattening trials that sheep can be fed with SAMNUT-22 at 10% level of haulm inclusion in concentrate diets for improved growth performance, nutrient digestibility fattening and carcass quality without adverse effect.
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