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Insufficient quantity and quality of feed for ruminants during the dry season is a major limiting factor for effective production and management. Smallholder farmers generate large crop residues in the wet season, which are rich in nutrients in which ruminants can feed on in the dry season by proper ensiling. Cassava Leaves (CL) and Maize Stover (MS) residues were thus ensiled to evaluate their nutritional qualities as feed for ruminants. Fresh cassava leaves and maize stover were collected, chopped and wilted. Silages were prepared as: T1 (100%CL), T2 (100%MS), T3 (50%CL+50%MS), T4 (25%CL+ 75%MS) and T5 (75%CL+25%MS). Ensiling lasted for 21 days after which they were opened to determine the quality using physical assessment of colour, smell, texture, pH and temperature. Chemical composition of the silages comprising Crude Protein-CP, Crude Fibre-CF, Ether Extract-EE, ash content, Acid Detergent Fibre-ADF, Neutral Detergent Fibre-NDF and Acid Detergent Lignin-ADL were assessed. Nutritive values of the diets were evaluated using in vitro fermentation technique to determine Total Gas Production (TGP), methane, Metabolizable Energy (ME), Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFA) and Organic Matter Digestibility (OMD). Coefficient of Preference (COP) was determined using a cafeteria feeding technique. Olive-green colour, alcoholic smell and firm texture were observed in the silages. The pH ranged from 4.13 to 4.73 while higher pH was observed in 100%CL. The temperature was between 31°C and 32oC. The values obtained for the DM ranged from 64.37 to 67.9%. The CP values varied between 8.64 and 19.68%. The lowest CP of 8.64% was observed in T2 (100%MS) while 19.68% was obtained in T1 (100%CL). The ash content ranged from 8.65 to 13.00% and the CF value varied from 33.70 to 40.39%. It was observed that 100%MS had significantly (P<0.05) higher CF (40.39%) compared to other treatments. The EE values varied between 4.45 and 5.22%. The EE value in 100%CL (5.22%) was significantly (P<0.05) higher compared to other silage treatments. The NDF, ADF and ADL values varied from 62.70-69.80%, 43.95-47.90% and 22.95-25.80%, respectively and significant differences were observed. The total gas volume ranged from 8.33 to 13.8mL, methane 5.3 to 7.6, OMD (32.72-42.5%), ME (4.06-5.28kCal) and SCFA (0.15-0.27). The CoP of the silages was ≥ to the unity of one with the exception of T2. It can be concluded that, combinations of 50% cassava leaves and 50% maize stover could be used as feed for ruminants.

Characteristics of ensiled cassava leaves and maize stover as dry season feed for ruminants