INTRODUCTION
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. However, nutritive value of silage prepared from tropical grasses and
agricultural wastes is often limited by their low protein content (Gallaher and
Pitman, 2001). The lack of good nutritive feed during dry season is partly
responsible for low productivity and reproduction in livestock industry. Over
the past 20 years there have been major advances in the technology of making
and feeding silage (Okiely and Muck 1998). Much of this development has
occurred in temperate zones, and there are needs for further research in
tropical zones, in areas such as manipulation of microbial fermentation and the
development of grass and legume crop silage. Cassava peel, though, low in
nitrogen, remains the most outstanding source of energy for ruminants (Adegbola
et al., 2010). Utilization of crop
residue-based diets by supplementing with leaves of multipurpose tree fodder as
a cheap protein- rich has been reported (Mousa, 2011). In general, however, the
technology is adequate, and the difficulties are in integrating silage into
profitable feeding systems. In many tropical countries whole, fresh banana
leaves, stalks and pseudostems are chopped and fed either fresh, sun-dried or
ensiled. Banana leaves contain about 15% Dry Matter and 10–17% Crude Protein
(Chander et al., 2008). Banana
pseudostems (trunks) and leaves are useful sources of roughage in many tropical
countries, mainly during the dry season. They can be chopped and fed fresh or
ensiled. As pseudostems are low in protein and minerals, they are more
efficiently used when supplemented with rich-protein ingredients, such as copra
meal, multi-nutrient feed blocks, cassava leaves, poultry manure and spent
grain (FAO, 2011). The use of chopped and ensiled pseudostems is particularly
recommended when the bunch has been harvested and plants are cut down; the
large quantity of trunks available at harvest time can be safely preserved
through a well planned silage operation. The silage is of good quality when
chopped pseudostems are properly mixed with an easily fermentable carbohydrate
(such as molasses, sliced root vegetables) and protein-rich feeds (such as
poultry litter, wet spent grain). Poultry litter includes the beddings and
other contamination in the poultry house and the poultry manure. Poultry litter
is a good source of nitrogen, protein and ash (Ekanem, 2012). The ensiling of
by-products is a simple and appropriate method of conservation. It is the most
effective way to improve animal feed resources through the rational use of
locally available agricultural and industrial-by products likely to be
available to small-scale farmers at village level (Amole and Ayantunde, 2016).
The ensiling of the poultry litter is a simple and appropriate method of
conservation. It has proved to be an excellent ingredient for cattle feeding,
and the process significantly destroys harmful micro-organisms possibly present
in poultry litter. Silage made from poultry litter, chopped root crops and
bananas by-products provides a balanced diet for dairy cows (Phuong Le Thuy
Biah et al 2017) This study,
therefore, presents the physical characteristics, proximate composition and
minerals of cassava peel ensiled with banana leaves and dried poultry waste.
MATERIALS
AND METHODS
Experimental
site
The experiment was
carried out at the cattle Unit, Teaching and Research Farm, Oyo State College
of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora located between latitude 7°15' North and
longitude 3° 30' East with an annual average rainfall of 1278mm and average
temperature of 27°C
Silage
preparation, chemical analysis and quality assessment
Fresh cassava peel was collected from a gari
processing unit in Igboora while banana leaves were harvested within
the Oyo state college of agriculture and technology, igboora premises and the
dried poultry litter were collected at the broiler section of the college. The
materials were chopped to a particle size of 2-3cm using an automated
chopper. Weighed quantities of each material were mixed in the following
proportions; S0-100% cassava peel, S1,70%cassava peel+30% poultry litter,
S2,70% cassava peel+30% dried poultry waste, S3,40% cassava peel +40%banana
leaf+20% dried poultry waste. Mixtures were packed in triplicates into
4L plastic silos for silage analysis while separate mixtures were
packed inside 120L plastic drums. Silages were compacted
manually, sealed with polythene sheets and pressed with sand bags to exclude
air from the silage. Mini silos were opened at 21 days to determine pH,
physical characteristics (colour, smell and texture). The appearance of
the silage in term of colour was assessed using a colour chart. The smell and
texture of the silage was adjudged by six (6) individuals while the pH of the
silage using a pH meter. The proximate composition of silages was determined
using the general procedures of AOAC (2005). Dry matter content was
determined using a forced draught oven at 650C, correcting values
for the loss of volatile compounds by multiplying with the factor of 1.056 (Fox
and Fenderson, 1978).
Statistical analysis
All data
obtained were subjected to analysis of variance (SAS, 1995) and differences
between means were considered significant at 5% probability level. Means were
separated using Duncan’s multiple range tests.
The mineral composition of banana stem and
leaves ensiled with cassava peel and poultry litter. S1 had the highest Calcium
(Ca) content of 330.0mg/100g while S0, S2, and S3 showed similarities in values
recorded respectively (230.3mh/100g, 250.0mg/100g and 240.0mg/100g). 2 Values were also high with recorded values
of 710.3, 500.5 and 412.0mg/100g of Potassium for S0, S2, and S3 respectively.
Iron (Fe) content recorded was 3.0mg/100g, for S0 5.0mg/100g, for S1,
4.0mg/100g, for S2 and 4.5mg/100g. Magnesium (Mg) values recorded were 165.4,
205.0, 190.0 and 170.0mg/100g for S0, S1, S2, and S3 respectively. The values
for Manganese (Mn), Zinc (Zn) and Copper (Cu) were relatively low. The recorded
values of macro and micro minerals in the silages investigated show great
potentials for its utilization as feed resources for ruminant animals. The
silages samples fell within the range of existing values recommended. The level
of the mineral content is below the toxic level and at the required level for
the ruminants (NRC, 1980). Sena et al.,
1998) and Lockett et al., (2000)
reported 216.00 and 211.00mg/100g DW for Calcium (Ca) respectively. The Iron
(Fe) Content of the samples investigated show great potential for adequate
erythropeisis in any target farm animal. The highest Fe content 4.5mg/100g was
obtained in silage3 when silage contains banana stem, cassava peel and poultry
litter. This agrees with the report of Emmanuel and Staples (1990). The values
of Fe were within dietary level of 0.001 - 0.1% as recommended by NRC (2001).
CONCLUSION
Based
on this study, it could be concluded that addition of cassava peels, banana
leaves and dried poultry waste improves silage properties, minerals and
proximate composition. It is therefore recommended that the silage could be
adopted and best utilized as supplementation of feeds for ruminant animals.
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