NUTRITIVE EVALUATION OF ENSILED CASSAVA (Manihot esculentus, Crantz) TOPS AND GUINEA GRASS MIXTURES

Cassava (Manihot esculenta, Crantz) is an all season crop grown as food for human in several parts of Nigeria, suggesting abundant of its leaf as crop residue. These leaves can be used as feed for livestock and preserved either by ensiling or drying. Cassava tops was ensiled with Guinea grass and four energy additive( cassava chips, Sorghum, millet grains and sugar) into five treatments -: treatments A (30% Cassava tops + 60% Guinea grass +10 % cassava chips), B ( 30 % Cassava tops + 60%  Guinea grass+10 % Sorghum), C ( 30 % Cassava tops + 60% Guinea grass+ 10% millet grains, D ( 30 % Cassava tops + 60% Guinea grass+ 10 % sugar ) and E ( 40 % Cassava tops + 60% Guinea grass + 0% additive) for 42days. Silage quality and chemical composition were determined and the acceptability to livestock was assessed in 6 West African Dwarf (WAD) goats .The colour of the silage was olive green with pH ranging from 4.3- 5.1. The acceptability of the silage was similar except for treatment D and E.