Quality Evaluation & Acceptability of Silage Combinations of Maize Cobs, Moringa oleifera Leaves and Cassava Peels and Its Effects on Blood Parameters of West African Dwarf Bucks

Alabi, B. O.^1*, Lamidi, A. A.², Oyediran, P. J.¹ & Omoloye, H. O.¹

¹Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture, Osun State University, Osogbo, Nigeria
²Department of Animal Production and Health, University of Port Harcourt, River State, Nigeria

Dr. Alabi, B. O., Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture, Osun State University, Osogbo, Nigeria.

Keywords: Moringa oleifera Leaves; Maize-cobs; Silage; Acceptability and Physical Characteristics

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to determine the physical, proximate compositions and acceptability of silage combination of maize cobs (MC), Moringa oleifera leaves (MOL) and cassava peels (CPL) and its effects on blood profile of West African Dwarf bucks. The experiment was conducted by ensiling different proportions of maize cobs and Moringa oleifera leaves with cassava peel and urea to form T₁, T₂, T₃ and T₄, respectively. After 21 days, the silages were evaluated for their physical characteristics, acceptability and proximate compositions. The haematology and serum analysis of WAD bucks fed the silage treatments were also determined in a completely randomized design (CRD). All the data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics and analysis of variance (ANOVA) at 5% level of probability (?_0.05). All the silages have acceptable physical attributes for good silage except for T4. The crude protein (CP) ranged from 9.02 (T₁) - 26.25% (T₄). The coefficient of preference, (CoP) ranged from 1.06 (T₃) to 0.85 (T₄). Parked Cell Volume (%) ranged between 22.24 (T₄) to 33.46 (T₂) while the Total Protein (TP, g/dL) was significantly Thigher (13.04) in T4 compared to other silage treatments. It is therefore concluded that silage T₂ had all the physical and proximate attributes that enhanced the production of WAD bucks without any negative effect on their blood parameters.

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