QUALITY OF MORINGA OLEIFERA FORAGE ENSILED WITH CASSAVA PEELS

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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