EVALUATION OF MAIZE COB TREATED WITH DIFFERENT NON-PROTEIN NITROGEN SOURCES AND SOYABEAN MEAL ON PERFORMANCE OF GROWING YANKASA RAMS

Abstract

In the study the performance of growing Yankasa rams fed maize cob treated with different non-protein nitrogen sources and Soybean meal was investigated. Maize cobs were collected from Dawakin Bassa in Birnin Gwari LGA of Kaduna State. Deep litter poultry manure was used, inorganic granulated urea and soybean were obtained from Kasuwan Gwari local Market in Birnin Gwari. Maize cobs were ground using maize threshing machine of 5cm and below size, poultry litter was sundried for 5 days at 8 hours per day to prevent fermentation. Three hundred kilograms of each of the experimental treatments was produced for the feeding trial. The materials were ensiled for 21 days in proportion and polythene was used to further seal the silo after filling to allow air tight medium for adequate fermentation. Twenty-four Yankasa rams weighing between 11 ± 02 kg) and aged between 5 to 8 months were used for the study The experimental design was a Complete Randomizes Design (CRD)The study revealed that dry matter values and crude protein (94.65%) in poultry ensiled to (97.53%) poultry unensiled ranged from (6.56%) in urea ensiled to (13.17%) in poultry litter unensiled respectively. The result also revealed average daily weight gain (84.72g) in poultry litter ensiled maize cob was significantly (P<0.05) higher than (65.27g to 66.67g) in unensiled urea, ensiled soybean meal and unensiled poultry litter. In conclusion, treatments of maize cobs with different non protein nitrogen sources and soybean meal increased crude protein content and decreased the crude fibre fractions. Also, treatment of maize cob improved the performance of growing Yankasa rams. It was recommended, that urea, poultry litter and soybean meal could be used to improve the quality of maize cob to alleviate dry season fed shortage and cost of feeding small ruminants.