Abstract:
This study was conducted in El Obeid, North Kordofan State, Sudan during March-June 2017, to determine the effect of supplementation withZornia glochidiata meal on voluntary dry matter intake, nutrient digestibility and performance of Sudanese Desert bucks. Twelve (7-9) months old bucks weighing 12.500 + 0.250kg were divided into three equal groups. The bucks were housed individually each with drinking and feeding troughs.The animals were ear-tagged, treated against external and internal parasites and vaccinated against diseases endemic to the area. The animals were weighed prior to experimentation and once a week to the end of the experiment of 60 days. Feed and feces were analyzed using proximate analysis. In vitrodigestibilities as well as apparent nutrients digestibility coefficients were determined. Data on feed intake, nutrient digestibility and weight change were analyzed via analysis of variance. The results showed that voluntary dry matter intake significantly (P<0.01)increased upon supplementation with Zornia glochidiata meal. No significant differences (P>0.05) were observed in feed intake when Z. glochidiata meal and concentrate ration were compared. In Vitro and In Vivo digestibility coefficients increased upon supplementation with Z. glochidiata in similar manner as the ration conventionally used. The live body weight increased significantly upon intake of Z.glochidiata meal and the ration than the basal roughage but slightly greater in the group that consumed the conventionally used ration.It was concluded that Z. glochidiatameal could increase intake, digestibility and weight gain as the conventionally used ration. It is recommended that the meal be used for feeding bucks and be tried for supplementing other livestock species.
