Abstract
The study evaluated the nutrient intake, apparent nutrient digestibility, performance and nitrogen balance of West African Dwarf (WAD) sheep fed cassava peel-based diets containing kenaf grain meal (KGM) in replacement of palm kernel cake (PKC). Sixteen female WAD sheep with an average initial live weight of 9.71 ± 0.05 kg were selected for four dietary treatments, having four animals per diet. The diets comprised wilted guinea grass (Panicum maximum) as basal diet and cassava peel based diets with levels of replacement of PKC by KGM at 0 %, 15 %, 20 % and 25 %, respectively, as: 1) (25 % PKC + 0 % KGM), 2) (10 % PKC + 15 % KGM), 3) (5 % PKC + 20 % KGM), and 4) (0 % PKC + 25 % KGM). Increasing levels of KGM in the dietary treatments significantly (p < 0.05) influenced the total feed and nutrient intake (g / kg W0.75), digestibility and weight gain. Total feed intake (108.48 g / kg W0.75 or 662.82 g / day), nutrient intake, feed conversion ratio (21.47) and daily weight gain (30.95 g / day) were outstanding (p < 0.05) when PKC was completely replaced by KGM. Similarly, nutrient digestibility coefficients and nitrogen utilization values differed with increasing level of KGM inclusion, with the peak effects recorded in sheep at 5 % PKC and 20 % KGM inclusions than the other dietary groups. Thus, kenaf grain meal can successfully be used to replace palm kernel cake as an unconventional protein and energy source in cassava peel based diet for WAD sheep without causing any negative impact on nutrient intake and digestibility, nitrogen balance and growth performance.