Acceptability of Pennisetum purpureum by West African dwarf rams as influenced by manure application rates

The present study evaluated the chemical composition and acceptability of Pennisetum purpureum by West African dwarf (WAD) rams as influenced by manure application rates. The experiment was a completely randomized design replicated three times. Grasses that have been fertilized with 5 and 10 t ha-1 of swine manure and unfertilized (control (0 t ha-1)), were harvested from the experimental site 9 weeks after planting from 15 cm above ground level and evaluated for proximate and fibre composition. The harvested grasses were also offered to nine WAD rams on cafeteria basis, to assess the acceptability indices of the grass based on treatments. Results showed that the grass with manures consistently had higher (p<0.05) crude protein (CP) contents than the control (unfertilized plants) while all the grasses with different manure rates had similar (p>0.05) neutral detergent fibre (NDF). Consumption, co-efficient of preference and relative palatability of P. purpureum by WAD rams were improved by manure application, where highest values of acceptability indices was recorded in grass with manure rate of 5 t ha-1 over 10 t ha-1 manured grass. Percentage consumption, co-efficient preference and relative palatability index were in the order 5 t ha-1 > 10 t ha-1 > 0 t ha-1 (unfertilized). From the result, it can be concluded that P. purpureum with manure had a better chemical composition profile (higher CP) and better acceptability than unfertilized grass. Enhancing P. purpureum with manure at 5 t ha-1 had higher ash content and improved acceptability by WAD rams than grass with 10 t ha-1 manure application rate.

Keywords:

Acceptability, Nutritive value Pennisetum purpureum, Swine manure,

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