Silage Characteristics, Composition and Growth Performance of Wad Rams Fed Cabbage Waste Ensiled with Other Feedingstuffs

An investigation was carried out to assess the physical characteristics and chemical composition of cabbage waste (CBW) ensiled with wheat offal (WO), dried cassava waste (DCW) and brewers’ spent grain (BSG). Silage quality characteristics (colour, odour, pH, temperature and texture), proximate composition, phytochemical composition (tannin, hydrocyanide, ammonia nitrogen and saponin) and organic acids (lactic and acetic acid) were examined. The growth performances of West African dwarf (WAD) rams fed the silages were also examined. The dietary treatments were: Silage 1/Treatment 1 (CBW0) = 0 % CBW + 50 % BSG + 30 % DCW + 20 % WO, Silage 2 (CBW5) = 5 % CBW + 50 % BSG + 30 % DCW + 15 % WO and Silage 3 (CBW10) = 10 % CBW + 30 % DCW + 10 % WO + 50 % BSG. Nine WAD rams, with an initial body weight of 18.5 ± 2.3 kg, were divided into the three treatment groups in a completely randomized design and fed the silages for 56 days. Growth performance, including weight gain and feed conversion ratio was assessed. Silages containing cabbage waste (CBW5 and CBW10) had better pH (6.53 and 6.15) firm texture, pleasant aromatic odour and temperature. Values for pH (6.15 – 6.70) differed significantly (p<0.05), with Silage 3 (CBW10) recording the least pH value (6.15). Concentrations of crude protein and carbohydrates in the silages were significantly different (p<0.05) across treatments, were 14.00 – 14.70 % and 49.69 – 56.84 % respectively and were highest in silage 2 (CBW5). Ensiling reduced the contents of phytochemicals to tolerable ranges. Lactic acid and organic acids were significantly different (p<0.05) and highest in silage 2 (CBW5). Final body weight (21.67 22.33 kg) were significantly different (p<0.05) across treatment with rams fed CBW10 being the heaviest (22.33 kg) followed by rams fed CBW5 (21.83 kg). Feed conversion ratio (FCR) were significantly different (p<0.05) across treatment with values of 4.41, 5.00 and 4.19 for rams fed CBW0, CBW5 and CBW10 respectively. In effect, rams on CBW10 silage with the least FCR of 4.19 efficiently utilized the feed. Thus cabbage waste ensiled with these feeding stuffs had better fermentation quality and can be incorporated up to10 % in the diet of rams for optimum performance.