Growth performance and hematology of Djallonké rams fed haulms of four varieties of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

The study was conducted to assess the chemical composition of the haulms of 4 dual-purpose groundnut(Arachis hypogaea L.) varieties and their effects on the growth and hematology of Djallonke rams. The groundnut varieties were ICGV 97049(Obolo), ICGX SM 87057(Yenyawoso), RMP 12(Azivivi) and Manipinta. Rams(live weight 15.0 ± 3.0 kg) were randomly assigned to 4 sole groundnut haulm meal(GHM) treatments, with 4 rams each in an individual pen per treatment(total n = 16 rams). Samples of the groundnut haulms were milled and analyzed for crude protein(CP), neutral detergent fiber(NDF)and acid detergent fiber(ADF). The CP concentration was higher(P < 0.05) in Azivivi, Manipinta and Yenyawoso than in Obolo. The highest(P < 0.05) NDF and ADF fractions were obtained in Obolo. Whilst no significant difference was reported in total and daily dry matter(DM) intake among the varieties,CP,NDF and ADF intake all differed between Obolo and other varieties. The apparent nutrient digestibility did not differ(P> 0.05) when the Djallonke rams were fed the haulms. However, significant differences were observed in final live weight and average daily live weight gain. Rams fed the Yenyawoso variety had higher(P < 0.05) final live weight and average daily live weight gain compared with those fed Obolo and Azivivi varieties. Consumption of any of the 4 varieties of groundnut haulms by Djallonke rams did not have any harmful effect on their red and white blood cell numbers and hemoglobin concentration.The study revealed that the different varieties of groundnut haulms differ in nutrient composition and also affect the growth performance of the rams. The Yenyawoso variety may be used as a sole diet for fattening Djallonke rams.

The Use of Clay as a Methane Emission Mitigating Feed Additive in DjallonkéRams

Four groups each composed of six rams with 15 kg average body weight were submitted to one of the following diet: Panicum maximum C1 (PM), Panicum maximum C1 plus concentrate (PM_Co), Panicum m. C1 plus clay (PM_Ar ) and Panicum maximum C1 plus concentrate plus clay (PM_Co_Ar). The concentrate is composed of 90% weat bran, 9.25% cottonseed cake, 0.5% premix and 0.25 cooking salt. The clay used was a mixture of 59% smectite, 14% kaolinite and 27% quartz. The significance of treatments on variation in physico-chemical characteristics (ruminal pH and concentration of ammonia nitrogen), as well as in the rumen fermentation profile i.e. Volatile Fatty Acid concentration and in the enteric methane (CH4) production, depending on the rumen fluid collection time (at 9 o’clock and 13 o’clock), were studied using AOV. The highest ruminal pH was recorded in animals fed the mixture of Panicum plus clay, which is 7.02 ± 0.12 against 6.96 ± 0.12, 6.8 ± 0.06 and 6.69 ± 0.15, respectively in animals fed with PM, PM_Co and PM_Co_Ar. Incorporation of clay in the mixture of Panicum C1 plus concentrate had a stabilizing effect on ruminal pH. A significant decrease in the concentration of ruminal N-NH3 was recorded with PM_Ar (56.6 ± 15.2 g/ml), compared to PM (89.0 ± 18.9 g/ml). However, the ruminal N-NH3 concentration of animals fed the PM_Co diet (71.0 ± 15.1g /ml) increased in comparison to that of the PM_Co_Ar diet fed animals. Compared to the enteric methane concentration of the PM ration fed animals, the decrease of CH4 concentration was 2% - 5%, 7% - 11% and 19% - 23% respectively in the PM_Ar, the PM_Co and the PM_Co_Ar diets fed rams. These results suggest that the methane reducing effect of clay might be emphasized by the concentrate supplementation of the diet.

Intake and Digestibility of Native and Exotic Grasses Fed Ad libitum to Djallonke Sheep in South Benin

Native （Andropogon gayanus, Panicum maximum and Pennisetum purpureum） and exotic grasses （Brachiaria ruzi：iensis, Panieum maximum cv. C1 and T58） consumed in tropical humid zone were evaluated by estimating their voluntary intake and in vivo digestibility. The measurements were performed with 4 male Djallonke sheep （28 kg LW） fed ad libitum in metabolic cages, during a 10-days in vivo trial, preceded by a 14-days accommodation period. Each grass was studied at 3 stages of development. The samples （distributed grasses, refusals and faeces） were analysed for organic matter （OM）, crude fibre （CF）, neutral detergent fibre （NDF）, acid detergent fibre （ADF）, acid detergent lignin （ADL） and crude protein （CP） contents. Voluntary digestible organic matter intake （VDOMI） and voluntary digestible crude protein intake （VDCPI） were calculated （in g kg ^-1 LW075） as synthetic parameters to compare the grasses. The chemical composition of the distributed forages varied significantly （P 〈 0.001） between species or cultivars and development stages. After 4-5 leaves per tiller stage, CP contents decreased in all species and lowest in native species. Andropogon gayanus was the most l ignified species at any stage of development. At the end of the rainy season, Pennisetum purpureum leaves and Brachiaria ruziziensis had the highest CP. For all the grasses, CP contents were higher （and CF contents lower） in the consumed material, compared to the offered forages, showing thereby the high selectivity by the sheep. Dry matter intake, OM and CP digestibility varied greatly （P 〈 0.001） between forages and development stages with high interactions between these factors （P 〈 0.001）. Voluntary digestible organic matter intake and VDCPI were the highest （P 〈 0.05） for native Panicum maximum and Pennisetum purpureum. There was a relationship between digestibility and intake parameters, and ADL content of the grasses seems to be an important factor determining at least digestibility.