Dietary preferences of various hydroponic fodders by West African dwarf rams

Abstract

Maize, wheat, millet, and sorghum seeds were sown hydroponically, irrigated using a solution of poultry manure and, harvested at 10 days post-sowing to determine the acceptability of fodders produced by West African dwarf rams (WAD). Three WAD rams with an average weight of 9.5 kg were used for this study, lasting five days. The hydroponic fodders were fed to animals for 30 minutes to determine the intake (consumption), coefficient of preference (CoP) and relative palatability index (RPI). The behaviour of animals to the fodders was studied for three days for two hours with the aid of 8-unit CCTV digital video recorder to determine the time spent on feeding as well as the frequency of movement of the animals on each of the hydroponic fodders. The nutrient contents of the fodders were also carried out and the data generated were subjected to one-way analysis of variance in a completely randomized design. The highest value of crude protein (17.54 %) and lowest acid detergent lignin (4.70 %) were recorded for maize fodder. Significant differences were observed in intake (consumption), CoP and, RPI with the highest values obtained for maize fodder. The CoP was not up to unit (>1) except that of maize fodder. The rams fed maize fodder had greater time spent feeding (15.03 min.) and frequency of movement (12.00) compared to other fodders. This study concluded that maize fodder is more acceptable to animals having the highest quality and preference when compared to other fodders investigated.