AGRICULTURE AND BIOLOGY JOURNAL OF NORTH AMERICA ISSN Print: 2151-7517, ISSN Online: 2151-7525, doi:10.5251/abjna.2014.5.6.214.226

© 2014, ScienceHuβ, http://www.scihub.org/ABJNA

Utilization of Leucaena and Gliricidia- based multinutrient blocks by West African Dwarf (WAD) Sheep

Aye P. A

Department of Animal Production and Health Sciences Ekiti State University Ado- Ekiti, Nigeria, amokapius@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

The nutritional potential of Leucaena and Gliricidia-based multinutrient blocks were evaluated by feeding them to twenty-one (21) yearling West African Dwarf (WAD) Sheep for twelve weeks. The response criteria were the final weight, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, body length gain, heart girth gain, height at wither gain, pulse rate, rectal temperature, respiratory rate and the haematological indices. The dry matter intake (DMI) of sheep fed control diet was significantly (P< 0.05) lower than those fed diets supplemented with Leucaena and Gliricidia-based MNBs. The mean weight gain of sheep fed LUMNB, LPMNB, GUMNB, LUPMNB, GUPMNB and GPMNB were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those fed on the control diet. Sheep fed control diet had the lowest feed conversion ratio (62.0+0.2) while the highest feed conversion ratio was recorded on sheep fed LUMNB (20.5+0.1). The dry matter intake of sheep fed LUMNB, GPMNB, GUMNB, LPMNB, GUPMNB, LUPMNB were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those fed control diet. Sheep fed Panicum-cassava peels supplemented with GPMNB, LPMNB, LUPMNB, GUPMNB, LUMNB, GUMNB had significant (P < 0.05) higher daily average gain than the sheep on control diets. The Nitrogen balance values for sheep on treatments GUMNB, LUMNB, LUPMNB, GUPMNB, LPMNB, GPMNB were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those on control diet. Sheep on treatment LUMNB, GUMNB, GUPMNB, LUPMNB, LPMNB, GPMNB had significant (P < 0.05) higher values of N-retention than those on control treatment. The coefficient of digestibility of DM, CP,CF,EE and NFE of the sheep on the control ration were consistently lower (P < 0.05) than those fed the multinutrient blocks supplemented rations; DM , CP, CF, EE and NFE. The mean respiratory rates and pulse rates of sheep fed on Leucaena and Gliricidia-based multinutrient blocks were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than those fed the control diet. The rectal temperatures of sheep fed MNBs were not significantly (P > 0.05) different from those fed control diet. This shows that the rectal temperatures were fairly constant. Haematological variables measured showed that the PCV, RBC, WBC, HBC, ESR, MCH, MCHC, MCV, Lymphocytes, Neutrophils, Monocytes were significantly (P < 0.05) influenced by the dietary treatments. Generally, the haematological variables of the sheep fed Panicum-cassava peels ration supplemented with MNBs were higher than those fed control diet. The body length gain, heart girth gain and height at wither gain of sheep fed GUMNB, GPMNB, LUMNB, LPMNB, GUPMNB and LUPMNB were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those sheep fed the control diet. Based on the performance indices, Nitrogen utilization and the digestibility coefficient, it was concluded that supplemental use of multinutrient blocks especially the LUMNB and GUMNB in feedlot of sheep offer tremendous potentials for increased mutton production in the sub-sahara region

Keywords: Multinutrient, Leucaena, Gliricidia,,Haematology, Digestibility

INTRODUCTION

The effects on ruminants of imbalanced nutrient supply, in particular fermentable nitrogen and protein, include decreased rate of growth, low parturition rate, low birth weight, high lamb mortality, low weaning weight and reduced milk and wool production (Leng et al., 1991; Agbede, 2006). Therefore, to enhance small ruminant productivity in Nigeria and other developing countries south of sub-sahara alternative nutritional practices should include feed

supplementation by the use of multinutrient blocks containing fermentable nitrogen and sulphur and other microbial growth enhancement factors (Leng et al., 1991; Ricca and Combellas, 1993 Aye, 2013): the enhancement of digestibility of crop residues; the increased use of fibrous residue by the manipulation of rumen functionality

Ruminants have a unique digestive system that allows them to utilise wastes and other types of by- products as sources of dietary nutrients, which

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cannot be utilised, as nutrient sources by monogastric animals. Poultry wastes have been effectively used in maintenance, growth and finishing ruminant diets (Jacob et al., 1997 Aye, 2007).

The disappearance of food particles from the reticulo-rumen depends primarily on the rate of digestion. Higher fibre rations result in longer retention and lowered intakes (Adebowale and Ademosun, 1981). Nwechue (2000) reported that the voluntary intake could also result from differences in ash contents where increased ash contents lower dry matter intake and digestibility.

For instance, in Nigeria, grazing on communal lands is the dominant feeding system and nutritive value is not a constraint during rainy season. However, during extended dry season especially in the Northern part of the country, the mature tropical grasses resemble crop residues in chemical composition and could adversely affect the rumen fermentative digestion with attendant low digestibility and utilization (Preston and Leng, 1984; 1986; Aye, 2007).

Multinutrient blocks, which are of no dietary importance to man could be utilized as supplements for sheep. Multinutrient blocks represent a vast reservoir of cheap nutrients, particularly for ruminant.

Feeding Leucaena and Gliricidia - based multinutrient blocks result in reduced feed cost, lowered price of animal products and contribute to self-sufficiency in protein, calcium, phosphorus and expensive nutrients in ruminant production.

Protein supplements like oil seed cakes (Alhassan, 1985) and leguminous browse plants such as Gliricidia and Leucaena (Ademosun et al., 1985) have been put to good use in boosting the productivity of sheep and goats. Feed block has been advocated as a panacea to protein and energy deficiencies in ruminants especially during the extended dry season (Onwuka, 1999; Aye,2005). It has been demonstrated to improve dry matter intake and turn a Live-weight loss of –53g day-1 to a gain of +10gday-1 in lambs on a basal diet of wheat straw (Hendratno et al., 1989).

In the wet season, grasses grow luxuriantly and contain adequate protein needed for maintenance and production. However, as the rainy season progresses, the grasses become fibrous leading to reduction in nutritional qualities. Thus, multinutrient blocks supplementation will also be useful in the wet season. Further, during the cropping season in many communities in South Western Nigeria, small

ruminants are restricted or tied in the homestead to prevent damage to crops. Thus, the owners of animals cut grass for them, which may not represent the best feed selection to ensure adequate growth. Therefore, multinutrient blocks supplementation is also necessary in the wet season as a form of supplementary nutrients.

The dry matter (DM) intake is an important factor in the utilization of feed by ruminant livestock and is a critical determination of energy intake and performance in small ruminants (Devendra and Burns, 1983).

The present study is designed to validate the nutritional values of Leucaena and Gliricidia - based multinutrient blocks using performance, physiological, Haematological characteristics and nutrients digestibility of control and test diets in West African Dwarf Sheep.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This experiment evaluated the effect of Leucaena – based multinutrient blocks and Gliricidia – based multinutrient blocks using the performance, haematological, physiological parameters and nutrient utilization as the response criteria of WAD sheep fed supplemental feed blocks.

Procurement of West African dwarf sheep: Twenty-one yearlings WAD sheep weighing on average 11.2+0.4 kg were purchased from the open markets in Ondo and Ekiti states of Nigeria. They were quarantine for thirty days during which routine treatment developed at NAPRI (1984) was applied as follows:

Day 1: Prophylatic antibiotics treatment was given for 3 days using Kepro-oxylet and Tissue culture Rinderpest Vaccine was also given.

Day 4: Broad Spectrum anti-helminthics using panacum and coccidiostat treatment using prococc were administered for 3 days.

Day 7: Animals were sprayed against ectoparasite using Asuntol.

Day 28: Levamisole and Asuntol were repeated for the helminths and ectoparasites respectively.

Day 30: Animals were put in their pens and were given Ivomec against mange.

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Experimental layout and animal management: The sheep pen was partitioned into twenty-one equi-dimentional units with planks. The sheep were weighed into their experimental units, efforts were made to ensure that all the treatments were balanced in body weight and age. This was done using the dentition and weight range methods (Devendra and Mcleroy, 1988; Adebowale et al., 1992). The design of the experiment was a completely randomised design. The animals were divided into seven groups of three animals balanced for body weight and were randomly allocated to experimental dietary treatments. The sheep on treatments 1,2 and 3 were fed on Panicum-Cassava peels rations supplemented with Leucaena + Poultry manure multinutrient blocks (LPMNB), Leucaena+urea+poultry manure multinutrient blocks (LUPMNB) and Leucaena+Urea multinutrient blocks (LUMNB) respectively. The sheep on treatments 4,5 and 6 were fed on Panicum – Cassava peels rations supplemented with Gliricidia+Poultry manure multinutrient blocks (GPMNB), Giliricidia+urea+poultry manure multinutrient blocks (GUPMNB), Gliricidia+urea multinutrient blocks (GUMNB) and sheep on treatment 7 were fed on Panicum-Cassava peels ration without multinutrient block supplementation. The animals were fed on the supplemented diets for twelve weeks.

Linear body measurements: The body length which is the average of left and right side measurements of the distance between the head of humerii and the distal end of the pubic bone were taken using a centimetre graduated tape with the animal standing on flat ground. The height at withers which is the distance between the most cranial palpable spinosus and the ground was determined on animal standing vertically straight. The heart girth was also measured as the body circumference just behind the fore legs (Hall, 1991; Orheruata and Olutogun, 1998; Herrera et al., 1996; Salako and Ngere, 2002; Aye, 2007). Each animal was restrained with the help of at least two assistants who helped to hold the animals in an unforced position. Each dimension was measured at least three times and the mean recorded in centimetres.

Weight gain: All the animals were weighed at the beginning of the trial and subsequently every week for an assessment of the growth rate.

Weighing of sheep was carried out with the aid of mobile metallic weighing crate. A standard 100 kg salter scale was mounted on the weighing crate. Average daily gains were calculated from the weekly weights for individual WAD sheep over the entire period of the trial.

Feed intake -: During the twelve weeks of feeding trial, the animals were fed a weighed amount of feed and left over collected and weighed to determine amount of feed consumed by the animals.

Haematology-: Blood was collected from the jugular vein of the sheep at the start and two-week interval during the feeding trial for analysis. Blood was collected into a vial containing Ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid (EDTA) which prevents coagulation by complexing Ca2+. The vials or bijoul bottles were immediately capped and the content mixed gently for about a minute by repeated inversion or rocking. The blood smears were prepared immediately after the collection.

Packed cell volume (Haematocrit)-: Packed cell volume (PCV) was determined by spinning about

75l of each blood sample in heparinised capillary tubes in a haematocrit centrifuge for about 5 minutes. PCV was then read on haematocrit reader as described by Benson et al. (1989) and Jain (1993).

Erythrocyte (RBC) Count-: RBC was determined using haemocytometer method as described by Lamb (1981). The blood sample collected in each replicate was diluted at a ratio of 1:200 for RBC count using red cell diluting fluid. Samples of RBC were

obtained using the relationship Red Blood Cell / l = Number of Cell counted x 5 x 10 x 200

Haemoglobin estimation-: The haemoglobin content in the blood of each sheep was estimated using cyanomethaemoglobin method. 0.02 ml of blood from each sheep was expelled into 4ml Drabkins Solution. The mixture was allowed to stand for 5 minutes for full colour development. Also, standard haemoglobin was prepared by diluting blood of known haemoglobin concentration as in the test samples. The test samples and standard were read on the colourimeter at 624 nanometer using green filter.

Sample haemoglobin concentration was obtained using this relationship:

Sample Haemoglobin = Reading of test x Standard Haemoglobin Concentration (g/100ml) Reading of Standard

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Haematological indices also measured were erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) Lymphocytes, neutrophils, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils.

Mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC)-: This expresses the concentration of haemoglobin in the red cell as compared to the concentration of haemoglobin in 100ml of blood expressed in percentage (%).

MCHC = Haemoglobin Content (g/100ml) x 100 PCV

Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin (MCH)-: This expresses the amount of haemoglobin in one red cell expressed in pictogram (pg)

MCH = Haemoglobin Content (g/100ml) x 100 RBC

Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)-: This expresses the average red cell volume measured in cubic

micron (3)

MCV = Packed Cell Volume x 10 (3) RBC

Respiratory Rate-: Two independent counts of the respiratory (flank) movement were made and averaged to per minute measurement (Kelly, 1980: Pagot, 1992). This was done before the rectal temperature was taken to avoid excitement. A stopwatch was used to time the counts.

Rectal Temperature-: This was taken on all animals on one day a week at 0700h and 1730h respectively using digital clinical thermometer (Troge Medical GMBH Hamburg. Germany). The thermometer was inserted into the rectum of the animals at a depth of 5cm with the bulb touching the mucosa wall of the rectum for one minute. It was removed and read. The thermometer was then cleaned with methylated spirit (Kelly 1980; Fasehun et al 1995).

Pulse Rate-: This was taken thrice at 0700h and 1730h local time on all animals once a week. A stopwatch was also used to time the count. Pulse rate were taken from the femoral artery (Ogunmola, 1981; Pagot, 1992).

Ambient Temperature-: The minimum and maximum temperatures were taken using six’s thermometer (Gallenkamp THR – 600 – S) on one day a week at 0700h and 1730h respectively. The thermometers were reset by a magnet for next reading.

Chemical And Statistical Analyses: For the chemical analysis all values were mean for triplicate determinations and where applicable the coefficient of variations between plants species were established (Steel and Torrie, 1980). The proximate analyses of the diets were determined by the procedures of AOAC (2005). All group means and the ANOVA of data collected were determined using Minitab Statistical Package version 10.2 (Minitab Inc. USA)

RESULTS

Proximate Composition and Energy Content of Multinutrient Blocks (MNBS): Table 4 indicates appreciable variations in crude protein (CP), ash, crude fibre (CF), crude fat and nitrogen free extract (NFE). The CP of the multi-nutrient blocks ranged from 30.2+ 0.61g kg-1 dry matter (DM) in Gliricidia-Poultry manure multi-nutrient blocks to 344.2+1.19g Kg-1 DM in Gliricidia – Urea multi-nutrient blocks. The ash content varied from 28.6 + 0.01g Kg -1 DM in Leucaena – Poultry manure multi-nutrient blocks to 333.1 + 0.04g kg-1 DM in Gliricidia – Poultry manure multi-nutrient blocks, while the crude fibre ranged from 47.5+ 0.01g kg-1 DM in Leucaena – urea multi-nutrient blocks to 121.0 + 0.03g Kg-1 DM in Gliricidia – Urea – Poultry manure multi-nutrient blocks-.

The Crude fat (EE) ranged from 44.1+0.01g Kg-1 DM in Leucaena – urea multinutrient blocks to 91.1 + 0.15g kg-1 DM in Gliricidia - urea – poultry manure multinutrient blocks. The NFE varied from 247.2 + 1.16g kg-1 DM in Gliricidia – Urea multi-nutrient blocks to 523.8 + 6.28 g Kg-1 DM in Leucaena – Poultry manure multi-nutrient blocks.

The Gross energy (GE) contents of the multi-nutrient blocks ranged from l1.67 MJKg-1 in Gliricidia – poultry manure multi nutrient blocks, to 15.48MJKg-1 in Gliricidia - urea multinutrient blocks. The GE values were lower in Leucaena-based multi-nutrient blocks than in Gliricidia-based multi-nutrient blocks.

The trace and major mineral constituents of Leucaena and Gliricidia – based multi-nutrient blocks are presented in Table 5. In all the block samples, calcium was the most abundant minerals and the values were higher in Leucaena-based multi-nutrient blocks than the Gliricidia – based multi-nutrient blocks. Of the nutritionally important macro-and micro-minerals, Na, Ca, K, Mg, Zn and Fe were the most abundant while Cu was the least abundant.

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Table 1: Nutrients Composition in Panicum maximum and Cassava peels (DM)

COMPOSITION PANICUM MAXIMUM CASSAVA PEELS COEFFICIENT OF VARIATION

Crude Protein (g kg-1) Ash (g kg-1) Crude Fibre (g kg-1) Ether Extract (g kg-1) Nitrogen Free Extract (g kg-1) Gross Energy (MJ kg-1) Calcium (mg kg-1) Sodium (mg kg-1) Potassium (mg kg-1) Phosphorus (mg kg-1) Magnesium (mg kg-1) Iron (mg kg-1) Manganese (mg kg-1) Zinc (mg kg-1) Copper (mg kg-1)

161.4 + 0.5 72.4 + 0.1

352.1 + 0.0 53.2 + 0.1

361.0 + 0.5 12.0 + 0.1

512.98 205.88 519.78 1598.50 148.74 95.23 ND

102.49 ND

69.1 + 0.5 69.0 + 0.0

109.5 + 0.0 71.2 + 0.0

681.2 + 0.3 17.47 + 0.0

135.47 174.98 156.16 64.20

122.30 7.53 3.76

77.14 ND

56.61 3.39

74.32 20.47 43.45 26.26 82.32 11.48 76.07

130.50 13.80

120.69 -

19.96 -

ND= Not detected Table 2: Ingredient Composition (%) of Multi-nutrient blocks

Ingredients Treatments

LPMNB LUPMNB LUMNB GPMNB GUPM GUMNB

Molasses 40 40 40 40 40 40

Urea - 5 10 - 5 10

Poultry manure 10 5 - 10 5 -

Salt 5 5 5 5 5 5

Cement 15 15 15 15 15 15

Leucaena residue 30 30 30 - -

Gliricidia residue - - - 30 30 30

Total 100 100 100 100 100 100

LPMNB = Leucaena – Poultry manure multi-nutrient blocks LUPMNB = Leucaena – Urea –Poultry manure multi-nutrient blocks LUMNB = Leucaena – Urea mulitinutrient blocks GPMNB = Gliricidia – Poultry manure multinutrient blocks GUPMNB = Gliricidia – Urea- Poultry manure multinutrient blocks GUMNB = Gliricidia -Urea multi-nutrient blocks Table 3: Chemical Composition of the Major Ingredients Used in the Multinutrient Blocks (g100g-1 DM )

Ingredients LLR GLR M U

Nitrogen 4.04 4.48 0.48 45.00

Ash 7.98 8.12 7.62 0.01

Crude fibre 11.56 10.22 0.28 0.02

Ether extract 3.24 7.23 1.01 0.08

Nitrogen free Extract 51.97 46.43 88.09 ND

LLR = Leucaena leaf residue, GLR = Gliricidia leaf residue, M = Molasses, U=Urea, ND = Not detected.

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Table 4: Proximate composition (g Kg -1 DM), Gross energy (MJKg-1) and Strength of Multinutrient blocks

Treatment

CP CF EE ASH NFE Gross energy

Strength

LPMNB 54.4 + 0.59 66.0 + 071 70.2 + 0.01 28.56 0.01 523.8+6.28 12.74 Strong

LUPMNB 195.7 + 1.19 48.5 +0.42 72.3 + 0.02 248.4 +0.2 414.1+0.49 13.58 Strong

LUMNB 328.2 + 0.61 47.5 + 0.01 44.1 + 0.01 248.4 +0.3 33 1.8+0.38 15.33 Very strong

GPMNB 30.2 + 0.61 70.3 +0.01 81.9 +0.01 333.1+0.04 484.5+0.57 11.67 Strong

GUPMNB 179.0+ 1.20 121.0+0.03 91.1+0.15 284.9+0.05 324.0+0.98 14.56 Strong

GUMNB 344.2 + 1.19 77.4+ 0.04 65.1+ 0.01 266.0+0.04 247.2+1.16 15.48 Very strong

MEAN 188.6 71.8 70.8 281.2 387.6 13.89

S.D 13.19 2.69 1.60 2.89 10.53 1.51

CV 69.94 37.47 22.60 10.28 27.17 10.87 Solubility: All the treatments did not dissolve in water up to day 4 but were fairly sticky

DM = Dry matter, CP =Crude protein, CF =Crude fibre, EE =Ether extract, NFE= Nitrogen free extractives SD= Standard deviation, CV = Coefficent of Variation. Table 5: Mineral Constituents of Multinutrient blocks (mg kg-1 )

Na P K Ca Mg S Zn Fe Cu Mn

LPMNB LUPMNB LUMNB GPMNB GUPMNB GUMNB MEAN SD CV

648.20 635.40 432.30 873.50 771.40 642.10 667.20 148.70 22.30

210.70 107.10 215.60 162.50 71.40 35.40 133.8 74.45 55.60

623.30 628.50 563.20 923.20 831.00 663.50 705.50 139.89 19.80

971.40 950.00 737.50 766.70 892.90 757.10 845.90 104.60 12.40

135.70 121.40 225.00 166.70 142.90 192.90 164.10 39.10 23.80

121.43 62.50 45.31 141.67 51.79 121.43 90.68 42.10 46.4

214.20 357.10 131.30 258.30 414.30 171.40 257.80 109.30 42.40

57.10 85.70 68.80 158.30 264.30 257.10 148.60 93.80 63.10

ND ND 0.06 0.08 ND ND 0.07 0.00 20.20

21.40 14.30 21.80 50.00 42.90 57.00 34.60 17.70 51.00

ND = Not Detected SD = Standard Deviation CV = Coefficient of Variation

Table 6: Anti Nutrients of Multinutrient Blocks

Treatment Tannin g100g-1

Phytin-P mg g-1

Phytate mg g-1

Oxalate mg g-1

LPMNB LUPMNB LUMNB GPMNB GUPMNB GUMNB MEAN SD CV

0.42 0.49 1.37 0.44 1.54 0.63 0.82 0.50 60.98

6.03 3.25 2.78 6.26 3.94 2.55 4.14 1.63

39.37

4.42 11.53 9.88

22.24 14.00 9.06

14.69 5.79

39.41

7.65 7.02 7.74 7.56 7.83 8.73 7.76 0.56 7.22

Table 7: Performance of sheep fed Panicum – Cassava peel ration supplemented with Leucaena and Gliricidia-based multinutrient blocks.

Treatment Dry matter Intake (kg)

Initial wt (kg)

Final wt (kg)

Weight gain (kg)

Initial W0.75

(kg)

Final W0.75

(kg)

W0.75 gain (kg)

Feed conversion ratio

LPMNB 40.5+1.9a 11.6+1.3 13.5+1.2 1.9+0.2a 6.2+0.9 7.1+0.8a 0.9+0.3a 21.3+1.2c

LUPMNB 37.2+0.7b 10.9+1.3 12.4+1.3 1.4+0.4b 6.0+1.0 6.6+0.9b 0.6+0.4b 26.6+0.4b

LUMNB 41.1+2.0a 11.7+1.2 13.7+0.4 2.0+0.9a 6.2+0.9 7.1+0.3a 0.9+0.4a 20.6+0.1c

GPMNB 35.7+4.0b 10.9+1.8 11.9+2.0 1.0+0.2b 6.0+1.4 6.4+1.5 0.4+0.3b 35.7+2.1b

GUPMNB 35.7+1.1b 10.7+1.8 11.9+1.7 1.2+0.3b 5.9+1.4 6.4+1.4 0.5+0.4b 29.8+1.0b

GUMNB 39.3+0.4a 11.3+1.6 13.1+1.5 1.8+0.2a 6.2+1.3 6.9+1.3 0.7+0.3a 21.8+0.2d

CONTROL 35.4+0.2c 11.1+0.9 11.8+0.7 0.7+0.2c 6.0+0.7 6.4+0.5b 0.4+0.2c 50.6+0.2a

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Table 8: Morphostructural differentiation of sheep fed Panicum – Cassava peels ration supplemented with Leucaena and Gliricidia based multinutrient blocks.

Treatment Initial Heart Girth (cm)

Final Heart Girth (cm)

Heart Girth gain (cm)

Initial Height at Wither (cm)

Final Height at Wither (cm)

Height at Wither gain (cm)

Initial Body length (cm)

Final Body length (cm)

Body Length gain (cm

LPMNB 45.3+7.0 57.3+5.0 12.1+0.3b 53.0+1.0 74.7+1.2 21.7+0.7a 63.3+6.4 80.0+5.3 16.7+ 3.5a

LUPMNB 46.0+5.3 58.7+4.0 12.7+0.6b 51.7+1.5 73.3+1.2 21.6+2.1a 65.3+4.9 79.0+3.6 13.7+4.7b LUMNB 45.3+8.0 60.7+8.0 15.4+0.3a 50.3+3.5 71.0+4.4 20.7+0.3a 66.7+2.3 85.7+6.1 19.0+4.1a

GPMNB 40.7+6.8 56.7+4.2 16.0+0.9c 52.3+4.0 72.7+5.7 20.4+1.0b 60.7+7.4 81.0+4.0 20.3+2.0a

GUPMNB 45.3+5.8 63.3+5.3 18.0+0.3b 52.7+5.1 76.0+2.6 23.0+0.3a 61.3+2.5 77.0+6.5 15.7+3.5b GUMNB 48.7+5.7 71.0+4.2 22.3+0.3a 51.0+4.6 72.7+4.9 21.7+0.6b 63.0+6.1 88.0+6.2 25.0+0.7a

CONTROL 44.0+0.0 52.7+2.1 8.7+0.6c 50.0+2.0 56.3+2.3 6.3+0.7b 62.7+4.6 72.3+4.0 9.6+1.2c

a, b, c, values with differing superscripts in the same column differ significantly (P < 0.05). Table 9: Ambient temperature (0C) of the environment where the rams fed supplemental multi-nutrient blocks were kept

Weeks Morning evening mean ambient temperature

minimum maximum minimum maximum

1 26 28 25 27 26.5 + 1.3 2 26 28 25 27 26.5 + 1.3

3 25 28 25 27 26.3 + 1.5 4 26 28 26 27 26.8 + 1.0

5 27 29 25 27 27.0 + 1.6

6 26 28 26 27 26.8 + 1.0 7 26 28 26 28 27.0 + 1.2

8 26 28 25 27 26.5 + 1.3

9 26 28 26 27 26.8 + 1.0 10 26 28 25 26 26.3 + 1.3

11 26 28 25 27 26.5 + 1.3

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Table 10: Weekly mean respiratory rate/minute of rams fed Panicum-Cassava peels ration supplemented with Leucaena and Gliricidia-based multinutrient blocks

Treatment Weekly Means Overall Mean 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

LPMNB 22.8+0.8 22.5+0.9 22.4+1.2 22.7+1.0 23.1+0.5 23.4+0.6 23.3+0.3 23.8+0.1 22.9+0.3 23.5+0.2 23.0+0.5 23.0+1.0 23.0+1.0b

LUPMNB 23.6+0.3 23.1+0.3 23.1+0.5 23.5+0.2 23.2+0.2 23.4+0.3 23.5+0.6 24.0+0.5 23.5+0.4 23.1+0.1 23.4+0.3 23.3+0..2 23.3+0.6b

LUMNB 23.3+1.0 23.3+0.8 23.1+1.3 23.2+1.0 23.1+1.3 23.3+0.3 23.8+0.2 23.7+0.2 23.2+0.2 23.7+0.3 23.4+0.3 23.1+0.1 23.3+1.2b

GPMNB 22.6+0.3 22.1+0.4 23.3+0.0 22.5+0.2 22.7+0.2 22.9+0.7 23.5+0.2 23.7+0.2 23.0+0.2 23.8+0.2 22.9+0.5 22.6+0.2 23.3+1.2b

GUPMNB 23.9+1.1 23.4+0.9 23.3+0.8 23.5+0.9 23.4+0.9 23.3+0.7 23.7+0.3 23.8+0.2 23.2+0.9 23.9+0.5 23.5+0.3 23.5+0.1 23.0+0.0b

GUMNB 22.8+0.8 23.0+0.9 22.7+0.7 22.8+0.8 23.0+0.7 23.8+0.3 23.3+0.3 23.9+0.3 23.2+0.2 23.3+0.2 23.2+0.4 23.0+0.3 23.0+1.0b

CONTROL 24.0+0.3 25.9+0.4 26.6+0.3 25.9+0.3 25.8+0.1 26.7+0.2 26.0+0.4 25.6+0.3 26.3+0.2 26.9+0.1 25.8+0.2 26.3+0.1 25.7+0.6a

a, b, values with differing superscripts in the same column differ significantly (P<0.05). Table 11: Rectal temperature (0C) of rams fed Panicum-Cassava peels ration supplemented with Leucaena and Gliricidia-based multinutrient blocks.

Treatment Weekly Means Overall 12 Mean 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

LPMNB 39.3+0.0 39.5+0.1 39.4+0.0 39.6+0.0 39.5+0.1 39.6+0.1 39.4+0.1 39.5+0.1 39.4+0.1 39.5+0.0 39.4+0.1 39.4+0.2 39.5+0.1

LUPMNB 39.4+0.1 39.3+0.1 39.3+0.0 39.4+0.0 39.5+0.1 39.4+0.0 39.4+0.1 39.3+0.0 39.3+0.1 39.5+0.0 39.4+0.1 39.3+0.1 39.4+0.0

LUMNB 39.7+0.0 39.7+0.1 39.4+0.0 39.4+0.0 39.4+0.0 39.5+0.1 39.3+0.1 39.3+0.1 39.3+0.1 39.4+0.0 39.4+0.1 39.3+0.0 39.4+0.1

GPMNB 39.3+0.1 39.4+0.1 39.4+0.0 39.6+0.1 39.5+0.1 39.5+0.0 39.6+0.0 39.5+0.1 39.5+0.0 39.4+0.1 39.5+0.1 39.4+0.1 39.5+0.1

GUPMNB 39.3+0.0 39.4+0.1 39.4+0.1 39.3+0.0 39.3+0.0 39.4+0.1 39.4+0.1 39.5+0.0 39.7+0.1 39.4+0.0 39.4+0.1 39.4+0.0 39.4+0.1

GUMNB 39.4+0.1 39.3+0.1 39.4+0.0 39.4+0.0 39.5+0.1 39.3+0.1 39.6+0.1 39.4+0.0 39.4+0.0 39.4+0.0 39.5+0.1 39.3+0.2 39.4+0.1

CONTROL 39.7+0.0 39.9+0.0 39.8+0.0 39.9+0.1 39.9+0.1 39.8+0.0 40.0+0.1 40.0+0.1 39.7+0.0 39.9+0.0 39.8+0.1 39.7+0.1 39.8+0.0

Table 13: Haematological indices of Rams fed Panicum-Cassava peels ration supplemented with Leucaena and Gliricidia-based multinutrient blocks

Parameters LPMNB LUPMNB LUMNB GPMNB GUPMNB GUMNB Control

Packed cell volume (%) (PCV) 32.3 +4.5a 31.3 +3.2a 33.0 +3.0a 33.3+ 3.4a 30.3 + 5.0a 30.6+ 3.2a 27.3+ 2.5b

Red Blood cell (x 106mm-10 (RBC) 9.8 + 0.7a 10.6 +1.3a 10.8 +1.0a 9.3 + 3.5a 8.7 + 2.3b 9.5 + 0.3a 7.7 + 2.2b

White blood cell (x 103mm-1) (WBC) 10.3 +0.5a 7.9 + 1.1b 6.5 + 0.8c 6.6 + 0.7c 7.1 + 1.2b 7.3 + 1.1b 6.1 + 0.2c

Haemoglobin concentration (gm 100 mm-1) Hbc 10.8 +1.5a 7.4 + 0.9b 11.1 +0.9a 10.7 +1.5a 10.1 +1.2a 10.2+ 0.9a 8.6 + 0.8b

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (mm/hr) (ESR) 0.6 + 0.5b 1.1 + 0.4a 0.4 + 0.2b 0.7 + 0.4b 0.7 + 0.3b 0.5 + 0.1b 0.3 + 0.1

Mean Corpuscular haemoglobin conc. (%) (MCHC) 33.3 +0.1a 33.2 +0.4a 33.7 +0.3a 33.2+ 0.1a 33.4 + 0.2a 33.2+ 0.5a 38.4+ 1.2b

Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin (pg) (MCH) 11.2 +1.2a 9.9 + 1.1b 10.2 +1.3a 9.8 + 2.2 9.9 + 0.5 9.8 + 0.8 9.6 + 0.4

Mean Corpuscular volume (m-3) (MCV) 33.4 +3.7a 29.8 +3.1b 30.7 +3.8b 34.2+ 0.7a 36.8 + 1.6a 32.9+ 0.7a 28.6+ 1.0b

Lymphocyte (%) 59.3 +3.2a 59.3 +2.1a 56.3 +3.5b 57.0+ 1.0a 55.0 + 3.6a 58.3+ 0.6a 46.3+ 1.5b

Neutrophils (%) 27.3 +2.1a 26.7 +1.2a 29.3 +0.6a 29.7+ 1.2a 29.3 + 2.1a 28.3+ 1.5a 22.0+ 1.0b

Monocytes (%) 9.0 + 1.0a 9.0 + 1.0a 10.0 +1.0a 9.7 + 0.6a 9.7 + 2.1a 8.7 + 0.6a 7.0 + 1.0b

Eosinophils (%) 3.3 + 0.6 4.3 + 2.1 4.3 + 0.6 4.7 + 0.6a 5.3 + 1.5a 3.3 + 0.6b 2.7 + 0.6c

Basophils (%) 1.0 + 0.0 1.0 + 0.0 1.0 + 1.0 1.3 + 0.6a 1.0 + 0.0a 1.0 + 0.0a 0.3+ 0.6b

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Table 6 shows the anti-nutrients of the multi-nutrient blocks. The total polyphenols (as tannic acid equivalent) ranged from 0.42 g100g-1 DM in Leucaena-poultry manure multi-nutrient blocks to 1.54 g100g-1 DM in Gliricidia – Urea-poultry manure multi-nutrient blocks with a CV of 60.98%. Also the levels of phytin in multi-nutrient blocks varied from 4.42mg g-1 DM in Leucaena – Poultry manure multi-nutrient blocks to 22.24mg g-1 DM in Gliricidia – Poultry manure multi-nutrient blocks with a CV of 39.41%. The phytin-P of the multi-nutrient blocks ranged from 2.55mg g-1 DM in Gliricidia – Urea multi-nutrient blocks to 6.26 mg g-1 DM in Gliricidia – Poultry manure multi-nutrient blocks with CV of 39.37%.

The oxalate of the multi-nutrient blocks varied from 7.02mg g-1 DM in Leucaena – Urea – Poultry manure multi nutrient blocks to 8.73 mg g-1 DM in Gliricidia – Urea multi-nutrient blocks.

Performance of Experimental Sheep: The effect of the various dietary treatments on weight gain, feed consumption and feed efficiency and body measurement gains are shown in Tables 7 and 8. The dry matter intake (DMI) of sheep fed on the control was significantly (P < 0.05) different from those fed diets supplemented with Leucaena and Gliricidia- based multinutrient blocks (MNBs).

The mean weight gain (WG), heart girth gain (HGG), height at wither gain (HWG), body length gain (BLG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were significantly (P < 0.05) influenced by the dietary treatments. For instance, the weight gain of sheep fed LUMNB (2.0 + 0.9 kg), LPMNB (1.9 + 0.2 kg), GUMNB (1.8 + 0.2 kg), LUPMNB (1.4 + 0.4 kg) GUPMNB (1.2 + 0.03 kg), and GPMNB (1.0 + 0.2 kg) were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those fed the control diet (0.7 + 0.2 kg). Of the entire multinutrient blocks (MNBs), sheep fed on supplemental LUMNB had the highest weight gains, strictly followed by those fed on supplemental LPMNB and those fed on supplemental GPMNB had the least weight gain.

The feed efficiency of sheep fed the supplemental multinutrients blocks were not the same with that of control. Sheep fed on control diet had the lowest feed conversion ratio (50.6 + 0.2) while sheep fed on supplemental multinutrients blocks had (20.6 + 0.1), (21.3 + 1.2), (21.8 + 0.2), (30.6 + 0.4), (29.8 + 1.0) and (35.7 + 2.1) for supplemental LUMNB, LPMNB, GUMNB, LUPMB, GUPMNB and GPMNB respectively. The highest feed conversion ratio was

recorded on sheep fed supplemental LUMNB (20.6+0.1).

The heart girth gain (HGG), height at wither gain (HWG) and the body length gain (BLG) of sheep fed on the control were significantly (P < 0.05) different from those fed on diets supplemented with multinutrient blocks. The body length gain of sheep fed GUMNB (25.0 + 0.7 cm), GPMNB (20.3 + 2.0 cm), LUMNB (19.0 + 4.1 cm), LPMNB (16.7 + 3.5 cm), GUPMNB (15.7 + 3.5 cm), LUPMNB (13.7 + 4.7 cm) were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those sheep fed the control diet (9.6 + 1.2 cm).

Of all the entire sheep fed MNBs, those fed supplemental GUMNB had the highest body length gain, followed strictly by GPMNB and sheep fed on supplemental LUPMNB had the least body length gain.

Physiological Parameters: Table 9 shows that the ambient temperature throughout the period of the trial ranged between 26.3 + 1.30C and 27.0 + 1.20C with a coefficient of variation (CV) of 0.96%.

The mean weekly respiratory rates of the sheep are presented in Table 10. The mean respiratory rates of sheep fed on Leucaena and Gliricidia-based multinutrient blocks ranged from 23.0 + 0.0/minute to 23.3 + 1.2/minute and these were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than those fed on the control diet (25.7 + 0.6/minute).

Table 11 shows that rectal temperature measured during the experimental period were not significantly (P > 0.05) influenced by the treatments. The rectal temperature in sheep fed Leucaena and Gliricidia-based multinutrient blocks varied from 39.4 + 0.00C to 39.5 + 0.10C and with control treatment 39.8 + 0.00C. This shows that the rectal temperatures were fairly constant.

The pulse rates of rams are presented in Table 12. The pulse rates varied from 76.0 + 0.3 pulse/minute to 76.3 + 0.6 pulse/minute on rams fed multinutrient blocks and with the control treatment value of 82.0 + 1.0 pulse/minute. This suggests that the pulse rates were significantly (P < 0.05) affected by the multinutrient blocks.

Haematological Variables: Table 13 presents the haematological variables of sheep fed Leucaena and Gliricidia -based multinutrient blocks. The Packed cell volume (PCV) values for rams fed MNBs ranged from 30.3 + 5.0% in GUPMNB to 33.0 + 3.0% in GPMNB compared to PCV value of 27.3 + 2.5% in the control diet. The Red blood cell varied from 8.7 +

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2.3X106mm-1 in GUPMNB to 10.8 + 1.0X106mm-1 in LUMNB with control treatment having the value of 7.7 + 0.9X106mm-1. The White blood cell was highest (10.3 + 0.5X103mm-1) in LPMNB while the least (6.1 + 02 X103mm-1) value was recorded in rams fed control treatment.

Hbc was lowest in the sheep fed the Pannicum – cassava peel ration supplemented with LUPMNB (7.4

0.9g 100ml-1) and highest in sheep fed LUMNB

(11.1 0.9g 100ml-1). The erythrocyte sedimentation

rate (mm/hr) varied between 0.3 0.1 in control

treatment and 1.1 0.4 in LUPMNB. The MCHC (%)

ranged from 31.5 0.1 in rams fed control to 33.7 0.3 in rams fed LUMNB, while the MCH (pg) of rams

fed supplemented LPMNB was the highest (11.2

1.2). The MCV (m-3) was highest in rams fed

GUPMNB (36.81.6). The Lymphocyte values for LPMNB, LUPMNB, LUMNB, GPMNB, GUPMNB and

GUMNB were 59.33.2, 59.32.1, 56.33.5, 57.0±1.0, 55.0±3.6 and 58.3±0.6 respectively which were not significantly different but the values were significantly (P<0.05) higher than the value observed in control treatment. Result on Neutrophils (%) showed significant (P < 0.05) treatment effect with sheep fed Panicum-cassava peels ration supplemented with multinutrient blocks having higher Neutrophils values (26.7 + 1.2 to 29.7 + 1.2) than the value from control treatment (22.0 + 1.0).

The mean Monocytes values (%) of the MNBs ranged from 8.7±0.6 in GUMNB to 10.0±1.0 in LUMNB which were significantly (P<0.05) higher than the rams fed control diet. The mean Oesinophil values varied from 3.3±0.6 in LPMNB to 5.3±1.5 in GUPMNB and these were significantly higher than the value obtained in control treatment. The Basophils values of the multinutrient blocks and the control treatment were not significantly different (P > 0.05). DISCUSSION Data on the chemical composition of the major ingredients used in the feed blocks, proximate compositions, energy, mineral and anti-nutritional constituents of the multi-nutrient blocks revealed their potential as sources of feed for ruminants. For instance, the DM content of the blocks (711.8 – 785.6gkg-1) were quite high showing the reasonable extent of drying. These look adequate especially since the blocks are to serve as supplements to other conventional feeding-stuffs like cassava peels and grass with urea and poultry manure known to release their ammonia very rapidly. The Nitrogen free extractives reflect the energy/carbohydrate content of

the blocks and these are in relation to the molasses content. Thus, multi-nutrient blocks produced from the raw materials would give reasonable levels of available energy and nitrogen when used in animal feeding trials. The crude protein content of the LUPMNB, LUMNB, GUPMNB and GUMNB (179.0 – 344.2gKg-1 DM) compared favourably with and even surpassed those reported for urea- molasses blocks (117.4 - 144.8gKg-1) (Onwuka, 1999). This study further confirmed the ability of the fractionation scheme to enhance the protein and energy contents of the multi-nutrient blocks owning to its ability to remove the non-protein components of the Leucaena and Gliricidia leaves with attendant concentration of the protein and energy. The high energy content (11.67 – 15.48 MJKG-1) with low crude fibre (47.5-121.0g Kg–1 DM) of the multi-nutrient blocks clearly suggest that they could serve as alternative feed resources for ruminants especially during extended dry season. (Balraj, 1991; Onwuka 1999; Aye, 2007)

The study also shows that the Gliricidia and Leucaena-based multi-nutrient blocks contained some nutritionally valuable mineral elements. The potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, and zinc contents of these multi-nutrient blocks were particularly high when compared with most other foods (Leng et al, 1991), while iron which is commonly deficient in many diets, is fairly abundant in these blocks, particularly Gliricidia-based multi-nutrient blocks. The high proportions of mineral elements in these blocks when compared with other conventional foods such as legumes and tubers, confirm their importance as rich sources of minerals.

It is a common knowledge that leguminous plants such as Gliricidia sepium and Leucaena leucocephala have a high potential to meet dietary protein requirements of animals, but their inherent ability to synthesise a myriad of anti-physiological factors remains a primary drawback to their direct use as food for animals. This study shows that Leucaena and Gliricidia – based blocks contain phytin, phytin-phosphorous, total phenol and oxalate which varied with the residues from the plant species. It is evident that fractionation reduced the anti-nutrients, suggesting that the nutritive qualities of the blocks could be enhanced by fractionation scheme (Agbede and Aletor, 2003; Agbede, 2006; Aye, 2007).

This study demonstrates that sheep fed Leucaena and Gliricidia - based multirutrinent blocks had better performance than those fed control diet of Panicum +

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cassava peels only. This lends to suggest that the multinutrient blocks have enhanced the performance of the rams by efficiently improving rumen fermentation thus providing a better balance of nutrients to the animals for absorption (Hendratno et al, 1988; 1989 and Habib et al, 1991). This study further demonstrates the obvious advantage of using the multinutrient blocks as a farm package to increase growth rates of rams under confinement sheep management.

The improved weight gain, which cumulated in the relatively higher values of the final weight gain in the two multinutrient blocks could be attributed to the Non- protein nitrogen (urea and poultry manure) hydrolysis in the rumen throughout the day (Habib et al, 1991). This helps in complementing the beneficial effects of Leucaena and Gliricidia residues on microbial growth in the rumen with attendant utilization of the diets. Positive responses in productivity to feed blocks were attributed to improve rumen efficiency caused by a sustained supply of critical microbial nutrients from the continuous licking of the blocks. The dry matter intake and the performance of sheep in this study, in most cases compared with those reported for sheep (Tjiptosumirat et al, 1990; Habib et al,1991). However, the apparently lower sheep performance in the control treatment might be due to the fact that the animals were maintained on cut and carry Panicum maximum and that the animals have not been restrained before.

The ambient temperature throughout the trial was relatively constant and did not have significantly variation in the well being of the rams. The respiratory rates were in no way negatively affected by the multinutrient blocks. The respiratory rates in this study were higher than those reported by Radostits et al, (1997) for sheep but lower than those reported for goats (Aye, 1998; 2004). The rectal temperatures were fairly constant and they fall within the normal range for sheep (38.6 to 39.6oC) (Andersson and Jonasson, 1993). By implication the multinutrient blocks fed as well as the environment temperature did not exert any serious effect on metabolic activities vis-à-vis the health status of the rams, thus there were no cases of hyperthermia observed for the sheep. This may explain why the dry matter intake was not significantly (P > 0.05) influenced by the dietary treatments. It is evident that any of the multinutrient blocks did not unnecessarily increase the body temperature over and above the critical point. The rectal temperature recorded fell

within the range reported by Radostits et al, (1997); Aye (1998); Aye (2004) and Aye (2007) for sheep and goats.

The pulses rates were fairly constant and were significantly affected by the multinutrient blocks fed. The pulse rates fell within normal range reported (70-90 pulse/minute) for sheep (Radostits et al., 1997).

The biometric measurements such as heart girth, height at wither and body length of sheep fed Panicum-cassava peels ration supplemented with multinutrient blocks were superior to those sheep fed on diet of Panicum-cassava peels ration alone. The result of this study confirmed previous studies which indicated that multinutrient blocks improved heart girth, height at wither and body length of sheep dependent on low quality forages as their main diet (Habib et al., 1991; Hendratno et al., 1991; Hadjipanayiotou et al., 1993b), bring about progressive increase in growth rate and this could be ascribed to the increase in feed intake as well as effective utilization of multinutrient blocks. This finding is in line with experience in other countries which showed that multinutrient blocks manufactured from urea and/or poultry manure and agro-industrial by-products can be used as supplements for improving the productivity of sheep (Sancoucy et al., 1988; Leng et al., 1991; Hadjipanayiotou et al., 1993a

All the blood indices measured throughout the trial were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the multinutrient blocks fed rams. This tends to show that the feeding of the multinutrient blocks (by – pass protein) did not have adverse effect on the health status of the animals. Therefore the inclusion of urea and / or poultry manure or urea + poultry manure combination at 10% in these block packages further confirmed the earlier report of Habib et al. (1991) that urea used at this level will not have adverse effect on the block utilization by animals.

CONCLUSION

The study shows that rations with supplementary multinutrient blocks (MNBs) offered a better balance of essential nutrients, which is the major determinant of DMI and therefore of growth rate. This can be logically attributed to efficient rumen fermentation providing a better balance of nutrients to the animals for absorption through the positive influence of the MNBs. The study clearly demonstrates that multinutrient blocks feeding is a useful strategy in overcoming dry season weight losses or rather poor performance in sheep fed cut and carry fodder.

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The study further shows that the physiological variables measured viz rectal temperature; pulse rate, respiratory rate and haematological indices were not adversely affected by MNBs supplementation under feed–lot sheep production.

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