EFFECT OF AGE OF GUINEA GRASS (Panicum maximum) ON SILAGE QUALITY AND ITS NUTRITIVE VALUE IN WEST AFRICAN DWARF GOAT (WAD)

Thesis Abstract

An all year round pasture is not always guaranteed in the tropics especially in Nigeria as half of the period is a dry season. In order to circumvent the pasture scarcity during drought, silage making is paramount. In this vein, nutritive value of silage made from Guinea grass (GG) frequently harvested at 4, 6 and 8 weeks was assessed by West African dwarf (WAD) goat. Quality and chemical composition of the silage was assessed. Silage was also fed to WAD goat to determine the dry matter intake (DMI), Coefficient of preference (COP ) and dry matter digestibility (DMD). In vitro gas study was also carried out for the fresh and ensiled grass. Crude protein (CP) from freshly harvested grass for 4 weeks was (7.00%) and was significantly higher than that of 8weeks (5.70%). While for the ensiled, reduction in Crude protein (CP) ranged from 5.70% for 8 weeks to 6.57% for 4 weeks. Silage colour, aroma and texture was normal in all treatment. The temperature ranged from 25.5ºC for 4 weeks and 8 weeks to 26.3ºC for 6 weeks. The pH range from 5.4 for 4 weeks to 5.5 for 6 weeks and 8 weeks. The Dry matter intake (DMI) ranged from 0.254 for 4 weeks to 0.314 for 6 weeks. The Coefficient of preference (COP) ranged from 1 for 4 weeks to 1.24 for 6 weeks. Also the Neutral detergent fibre (NDF) ranged from 53.50% for 4 weeks to 58% for 6 weeks. Acid detergent fibre (ADF) ranged from 15% for 4 weeks to 31.5% for 8 weeks. Hemicellulose ranged from 24.5% for 8 weeks to 38.5% for 4 weeks. Organic matter digestibility (OMD) and Short chain fatty acid(SCFA) increased in 6 and 8 weeks. While Dry matter digestibility (DMD) increased only in 6 weeks silage. Therefore, silage is effective in extending the shelf life of forage and making it available all year round.