Chemical Composition, in vitro Degradation and Cost of Production of Some Formulated Feeds for Ruminant Animals

Abstract

Aim: The experiment was conducted to evaluate the chemical composition of some formulated feed for ruminant animals. Methodology: Two energy sources and three protein sources of feed were formulated at different percentage level in the ratio of 60:40 energy to protein. Three Wadara bulls fitted with permanent rumen cannula 40 mm diameters were used. The bulls were fed groundnut haulms and cowpea husk as basal diet and supplemented with mix concentrates of Dry leftover food, camel rumen content, cotton seed cake and groundnut haulms, salt and bone meal. 3 g of feed sample were measured using electronic weighing scale and carefully dropped into the nylon bag which is incubated into the cannulated bulls at specific interval of time starting from 6 hours to 96 hours with interval of 6 hours in between. Results: Dry matter values obtained for the formulations are within the range of 92.80% to 96.60% for the twelve (12) formulations for treatments, while the crude protein of the twelve formulations had been recorded within the range of 12.77%-15.07%. The crude fibre contents increased from 15.0% to 24.6% for T1-T12 in that order. Treatments 4 has been observed to be highly degradable at different levels (hours) of the experiment. Conclusion: The feed samples under study were evaluated and can be used sufficiently to meet the crude protein requirement of ruminant’s animals. Thus, these feed ingredients can be used to prepare concentrates feeds for ruminants, because they are cheap and readily available.