The effects of incorporation of Moringa oliefera leaves and sweet potato vines in the ration of growing grasscutters (thryonomys swinderianus temminck)
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Date
2010-06
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Livestock Research for Rural Development
Abstract
The effects of incorporation of sweet potato vines and moringa leaves into the freshly cut Panicum maximum diet of growing grasscutters were studied from February to April 2008 using 21 male grasscutters with an average weight of 1.20±0.09 kg at the CSIR Animal Research Institute, Achimota, Ghana. Mean feed intakes of fresh Panicum maximum alone diet (257±3.06 g/d) and Panicum maximum plus Sweet potato vine diet (262±3.06 g/d) were higher compared to the Panicum maximum plus Moringa leaves diet (173±3.06 g/d) respectively. However nitrogen intake was similar on all diets. Apparent digestibility of both DM and OM were observed to be higher for Panicum maximum plus Sweet potato vines diet than Panicum maximum alone and Panicum maximum plus Moringa leaves diets. There was a tendency for higher growth for grasscutters fed the Panicum maximum plus Sweet potato vine diet compared to animals fed Panicum maximum alone diet (5.88±0.66 g/d v. 4.29±0.66 g/d; p = 0.091) and significantly higher growth when the animals were fed Panicum maximum plus Sweet potato vine compared to Panicum maximum plus Moringa leaves diets (5.88±0.66 g/d v. 3.06±0.66 g/d; p = 0.003). The average daily growth rates were (4.29±0.66 g/d, 5.88±0.66 g/d and 3.06±0.66 g/d) for animals consuming Panicum maximum alone diet, Panicum maximum plus Sweet potato vine diet and Panicum maximum plus Moringa diet respectively.
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Apparent digestibility, Average daily gain, Forage intake, Nitrogen intake