ABSTRACT
In this study, Moringa oleifera leaf (MOL) was ensiled with different proportions of cassava peel (CPL). Physical characteristics, chemical characteristics and proximate composition of the silage mixtures were determined. The proximate and anti-nutritive constituents in Moringa oleifera leaf (MOL) and cassava peel were also determined. The physical characteristics, chemical characteristics and proximate composition of MOL ensiled with different proportions of cassava peel were assessed at 30 days of ensiling. Treatments consisted of the following MOL-CPL mixtures; 70: 30, 60:40, 50:50, 40:60 and 30:70. The colour, smell and texture of the mixtures showed that all silages had acceptable physical attributes. The pH of the silages varied from 4.0 – 4.50, indicating that the silage mixtures were adequately fermented. Silage scores however revealed that the best physical attributes were attained at MOL-CP mixtures of 40: 60 and 30:70. All the silage types formed good silage and while colour varied from pale to light green with brown whitish spots as the proportion of cassava peel in the silage mixtures increased. All silages had firm texture with pleasant and slightly alcoholic and fruity smell. Dry matter (DM) and nitrogen free extract of the silages increased as the proportion of cassava peel in the mixtures increased while crude protein and crude fibre reduced. DM, crude protein and crude fibre varied from 25.40% to 33.95%, 10.08% to 20.14 % and 13.36 – 15.30%, respectively. These results indicate that addition of cassava peel to Moringa leaf enhanced the silage characteristics of Moringa oleifera leaf-cassava peel silage. Addition of cassava peel to Moringa oleifera produced Moringa oleifera -cassava peel silage mixtures of acceptable physical and chemical properties at 40: 60 and 30: 70 MOL: CPL ratios.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page i
Certification ii
Declaration iii
Dedication iv
Acknowledgements v
Table of Contents vi
List of Tables viii
Abstract ix
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Objective of Study-Broad Objective 3
1.2 Statement of the Problem 3
1.3 Justification of Study 4
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Definition of
Silage 5
2.2 The Place of Silage
in Ruminant Production in the Humid Tropics 5
2.3 Types of Silage 7
2.4 Biology of Moringa Oleifera 7
2.5 Chemical Composition
of Moringa Oleifera Foliage 8
2.6 Chemical Composition
of Moringa Oleifera Silage 9
2.7 Moringa leafmeal and Silage Production 11
2.8 Practical Implication of using Different
Feed Products from Moringa
Oleifera 11
2.9 Chemical Composition
of Cassava Peel 13
CHAPTER 3: MATERIALS AND
METHODS
3.1 Location 15
3.2 Source/Procurement of
Forage and Cassava Peels 15
3.3 Preparation of Silage 15
3.4 Silage Examination
and Laboratory Analysis 16
3.5 Experimental Design
and Statistical Analysis 17
CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND
DISCUSSION
4.1 Proximate Composition
of Moringa Oleifera and Cassava Peel 19
4.2 Proximate Composition of Moringa Oleifera - Cassava Peel
Silage Mixtures 21
4.3 Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Moringa Oleifera Ensiled
with Varying Levels Of Cassava Peel 24
CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Conclusion 28
5.2 Recommendations 28
References 29
LIST OF TABLES
3.1 Physical Characteristics
Rating Scale of the Silage Mixtures
18
4.1 Proximate and
Anti-Nutritional Composition of Cassava Peels and
Moringa Oleifera Foliage 20
4.2 Proximate
Composition of Moringa Oleifera
Leaves Ensiled with
Cassava Peels 23
4.3 Silage
Characteristics of Moringa Leaves
Ensiled with Varying Levels
of Cassava Peels 26
4.4 Physical Characteristics of Moringa Leaves Ensiled with Varying
Levels
of Cassava Peels 27
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
The dry season presents
a problem of feed shortage for sheep and goats in southeastern Nigeria. Yield
and quality of forage from tropical pastures decline rapidly as the dry season
approaches, leading to inadequate supply of quality feed for ruminants during
this period (Olorunnisomo, 2010). Conserved feed
such as hay and silage made from tropical grasses are often poor in quality and
the level of animal production from these products may not justify the effort
and cost of conserving tropical grass forage (Gallaher and Pitman, 2001). To
obtain high animal productivity during the dry season there is need to conserve
forage of relatively high quality and high concentration of soluble
carbohydrates (Olorunnisomo, 2010).The seasonal deficiency can considerably
be reduced by conserving the surplus forage during high fodder availability
period making it possible to serve the animals all the year round. The
problem of low quality feeds and forage scarcity during the dry season can be
reduced drastically by utilizing tree legumes and agro-industrial by-products
like cassava peels (Olorunnisomo and Fayomi, 2012). Forage species such as
trees, shrubs and legumes are ever green and available. Moringa oleifera trees are
fairly abundant in the humid Southeastern Nigeria. Silage making results in securing feeds of high production,
preservation and storage as well as also later use in the drought period of
relative feed shortage (Koon, 1993). Silage making has great potential to solve
seasonal shortage of feed for ruminants in Nigeria by preserving excess forage
produced during the wet season for use at the dry period (Olorunnisomo and
Adesina, 2014).
However, nutritive value of silage prepared
from tropical grasses and agricultural wastes is often limited by their low
protein content (Gallaher and Pitman, 2001). Moringa oleifera
leaves have
high mineral and crude protein content as well as high forage biomass yield (Foidl
et al., 2001; Aregheore, 2002) which
can be exploited for feeding animals especially ruminants during the dry season
when forage is scarce. On a well managed field, Moringa plant can yield a high biomass of 20 t/ha of dry matter
with crude protein content above 20% (Akinbamijo et al., 2004). Moringa oleifera contains negligible amounts of anti-nutritional
factors, has a high crude protein (CP) content, significant amounts of vitamins
A, B and C in the foliage and high amounts of polyphenols, resulting in
significant anti-oxidative activity (Makkar and Becker 1996; Verma et al., 2009). Low levels of fermentable carbohydrates in Moringa leaf may, however, limit its use
as a silage material, hence there is need to mix with highly fermentable
carbohydrates to enhance its silage value (Olorunnisomo and Adesina, 2014).
Even though Moringa is not a legume,
it shares characteristics with leguminous plants that might need to be taken
into account in the silage making process, such as the high CP content in
foliage and very low content of water soluble carbohydrates (WSC)
(Mendieta-Araica, 2011; Mendieta-Araica, et al., 2011).
Legume, tree and shrub leaves generally contain high crude protein
and could improve feed quality of grasses for ruminant production. However, forage
especially legumes and shrub leaves usually make poor silage due to its low
content of carbohydrates and high buffering capacity (Wilkins, 2001). Hence
they require addition of readily fermentable carbohydrates (RFC) in order to
obtain good silage (Olorunnisomo and Fayomi, 2012).
Cassava peel, an abundant by-product of cassava root processing in
Nigeria, is a source of readily fermentable carbohydrates (Onua and Okeke,
1999). Its addition to forage can enhance fermentation and improve energy
concentration (Olorunnisomo and Fayomi, 2012) ensuring that silage produced is
of high quality that could serve as a feed for goats during the rainy and dry
season. Ensiling forage with cassava peel presents an opportunity to preserve
their nutrients and enhance their feeding value for ruminants during the dry
season (Olorunnisomo and Adesina,
2014).
1.1 OBJECTIVE OF STUDY-BROAD OBJECTIVE
The broad objective of this
study was to evaluate the silage quality and nutritive
value of Moringa oleifera ensiled
with different proportions of cassava peel
The specific objectives were to determine
i.
The proximate composition of cassava peel and Moringa oleifera leaf
ii.
Some anti-nutritional factors in Moringa
oleifera and cassava peel
iii.
The proximate composition of ensiled Moringa
oleifera leaf and cassava peel mixtures
iv.
The physical and chemical characteristics of Moringa oleifera leaf -cassava peel silage mixtures
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Among smallholder farmers,
it is a common practice to feed forage and some agro-industrial by-products to
ruminants. However, during the dry season there is commonly inadequate forage
as a result of the seasonal variation in the quantity and quality of forage. In
other to avoid such feed shortage, it is advocated that conserving such forage
materials and agro-industrial by-products (AIBP) as silage would serve to save
them from time of scarcity. One of such
forage crop is Moringa
oleifera while an AIBP is cassava peels. Cassava peel, an abundant
by-product of cassava root processing in Nigeria. Its addition to forage such
as M. oleifera can enhance
fermentation and improve energy concentration ensuring that silage produced is
of high quality that could serve as a feed for goats during the rainy and dry
season. Ensiling forage with cassava peel presents an opportunity to preserve
their nutrients and enhance their feeding value for ruminants during the dry
season.
1.3 JUSTIFICATION OF STUDY
Ensiling forage with cassava peel presents an opportunity to
preserve their nutrients and enhance their feeding value for ruminants during
the dry season. Moringa oleifera leaf
with its high protein content, complements cassava peel which has low protein (5-6%)
while high starch cassava peel provides the mixture with fermentable
carbohydrate and energy. Such silage mixtures are excellent source of nutrient
to animals, especially ruminant animals.
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