Effect of varied inclusion levels of Daniella oliveri leaf meals in red Sokoto bucks on intake, digestibility and nitrogen utilisation

The work was carried out to study the intake nutrient digestibility and nitrogen balance in Red Sokoto bucks fed varied grade levels of Daniella oliveri leaf meals (DOLM) in a complete diet. Four Red Sokoto bucks of average weight 12.5 ± 0.1kg were used in a 4 x 4 Latin Square Designs. Involving four dietary treatments (T1, T2, T3 and T4) containing 0, 10, 20 and 30% levels of inclusions of DOLM. The result of proximate composition showed that the DOLM had 32.04, 16.89 and 40.64% of CF, CP and NFE respectively. The result of the nutrients intake showed that animals fed 30% DOLM had highest (P<0.05) DM, CP and CF intake of 400.48, 70.82 and 44.26 g/day respectively. The result indicated that the apparent digestibility of almost all the nutrients was best in 30% inclusion level and was significantly (P<0.05) differed across the treatments. Animals fed 30% DOLM had highest nitrogen retention and was positive for all treatments .It can be concluded from the trial that DOLM leaves can be included in the diets of Red Sokoto buck up to 30% without adverse effect on intake and digestibility of nutrients.Keywords: Cottonseed cake. Daniella oliveri leaf, Red Sokoto bucks; Sorghum panicle