Open AccessEFFECTS OF SOURCE AND LEVEL OF NITROGEN ON THE UTILIZATION OF SORGHUM STOVER BY YANKASA RAMS
Author(s) -
F. Olaleru,
T. A. Adegbola
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
nigerian journal of animal production
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 0331-2062
DOI - 10.51791/njap.v28i2.1909
Subject(s) - stover , sorghum , urea , chemistry , zoology , nitrogen , ammonia , feed conversion ratio , weight gain , nutrient , food science , body weight , agronomy , biochemistry , biology , crop , endocrinology , organic chemistry
The effects of cotton seed cake (CSC) or urea in supplying either 12% or 16% crude protein on sorghum stover utilization by Yankasa rams was studied for twelve weeks, using a 2 x 2 factorially designed experiment. Nutrient intake, digestibility, weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were monitored. In vitro volatile fatty acid (VFA) and ammonia-nitrogen (NH,-N) concentrations were also determined. The result of the study indicated that the source and/or level of nitrogen (or crude protein) significantly (P 0.05) affected by either main effects of CP source and level or their interaction. The rams on the 16% CSC and 12% urea ration gained more weight and had lower FCR than those on the 12% CSC and 16% urea. The 16% CSC ration gave the best result in terms of sorghum stover supplementation. The 12% urea treatment which also had a good result in terms of weight gain and FCR could also be recommended for use.