EVALUATION OF THE NUTRITIVE VALUE OF WINGED BEAN POD FOR GROWING SHEEP

Abstract

The nutritive value of winged bean pod (WBP) was evaluated by means of chemical analyses (proximate components) and in vivo digestion study. The digestion trial involved 12 ewe-lambs and 12 ram-lambs randomly allotted by four treatments of three ewe-lambs and three ram-lambs per treatment. All experimental animals received certain amounts of a concentrate which contained ground maize, groundnut cake, blood meal, 14.3% cane molasses, 1.7% oyster shell and 1% mineral supplement. Animals treatment received a diet containing 50% of maize cob and of the (MC:C; 50:50) while those on treatment 2 received a diet containing WBP and the concentrate (WBP:C; 50:50). Animals on treatment 3 received a diet containing WBP and of the concentrate (WBP:C; 60:40) while those on treatment 4 received 2 diet containing WBP and of the concentrate (WBP:C;40:60)

WBP contained higher crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF) ash, ether extract (EE) and lower nitrogen free extract (NEE) than maize cob. Dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) digestibilities were higher for the MC:and WBP:C (40:60) diets than for the other diets. The inclusion of as much as WBP in the diet still resulted in good digestibility of the various components. Digestibility of CP was highest for the WBP:C (40:60) diet and lowest for WBP:C (60:40) diet. CP digestibility was similar for the MC:C and WBP:C diets. indicating that MC and WBP would enhance similar levels of digestible CP when fed all similar levels in the diet WBP was a better source of digestible CF, ash, EE and NFE than MC. Among the WBP diets, digestibility CF and ash increased increasing level of WBP in the diet and digestibility of NFE was highest for the WBP:C diet. The results showed that WBP can be incorporated into the diets of growing sheep at levels of up to 60% with reasonably good level of utilization.