Effect of cassava (Manihot esculenta) root meal supplemented with Nile Perch (Lates niloticus) fish waste on the rumen environment

Abstract

Abstract. The supplementary effect of cassava (Manihot esculenta) root meal (CRM) and Nile Perch (Lates niloticus) fish waste (FW) on the rumen environment was compared to that hominy meal (HM) and cotton seed cake (CSC). The feed’s degradability characteristics and chemical contents, rumen pH and rumen ammonia nitrogen (NH3 -N) levels in cows fed on four ration combinations (HM + CSC, CRM +CSC; HM + FW and CRM +FW) denoted as T1, T2, T3, T4, respectively) were determined. Results showed that DM degradability at 48h for CRM was higher (P<0.05) than that of HM (920 vs 835 g/kg). HM had higher (P<0.05) CP content than CRM (946 vs 837 g/kg) respectively. Both DM and CP contents of CSC were higher (P< 0.05) than those of FW (739 and 887 vs 367 and 598 g/kg) respectively. The degradability of DM for the TR1 and TR2 rations was higher (P< 0.05) than that of TR3 and TR4 (801 and 799 vs 727 and 616 g/kg DM respectively. TR2 had higher (P< 0.05) rates of DM degradability than the rest of the rations. The ruminal pH and NH3-N values differed (P< 0.05) between treatments. Treatments containing FW (TR3 and TR4) had higher (P< 0.05) NH3-N than those containing CSC (TR1 and TR2) (284.7 and 203.7 vs 135.8,and 183.9 mg/l). It is concluded that CRM when fed in combination with FW gave higher DMD values and provided a better fermentation environment than HM and CSC. It is further concluded that CRM and FW could be good substitutes for HM and CSC as sources of energy and nitrogen for dairy cattle and other ruminant animals

Description

Proceedings of the 13th ISTRC symposium 2007, Arusha, Tanzania

Keywords

Manihot esculenta, Effect cassava, Nile Perch, fish waste

Citation