GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF YANKASA RAMS GRAZEDSTRIP SOWN LEGUMES WITH OR WITHOUT FERTILIZER

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to examine the performance of growing Yankasa rams fed strip sown legumes (Stylosanthes hamate (L) Taub. Cv Verano and Centrosema pascuorum Mart. ex Benth (Centurion) cv Cavalcade) with or without fertilizer for improvement of rangeland in Gombe, Sudan Savannah Zone of Nigeria.Twenty-one (21) Yankasa Rams aged 9 to 12 months were used for the experiment. The experimental animals were sourced from local markets in Gombe State, the animals were balanced for weight to achieve one Livestock Unit per hectare (LU/ha), a Livestock Unit is the equivalence of 250 kg animal (Cattle) with a daily requirement of 2.5% (6.25 kg of feed on dry matter basis) for grazing trail the experimental animals were allowed to graze the plot of pasture sward for 8hrs. Plots were grazed until the forage was grazed down to a fairly uniform height of about 10 cm before the animals are moved to another replicate plots which lasedt four days for the period of 12 weeks (Rotational grazing system).For stall fed trail the animals were balanced for weight, randomly housed in individual pens, provided with a feeding troughs and drinkers where water was provided ad libitum. The forage hay prepared from Centrosema pascuorum, Centrosema pascuorum/SPP, Stylosanthes hamata, Stylosanthes hamata/SPP, Native range alone, Native range/Urea and Native range/NPK were offered in a complete randomized design (CRD) with three animals per treatments for 90 days. The treatments were offered at the rate of 5% of their body weight.The Results of Nutritive value shows no significant differences (P<0.05) in value recorded for dry matter (DM)) across the treatments. There was a significant   (P<0.05)    difference in crude protein (CP), crude fibre (CF), Ether extract (EE), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), ash and Nitrogen free extract (NFE) The content ranges from 6.57– 11.50%, 1.39– 2.15%, 28.44– 35.11%, 51.50 59.50%, 38.50– 47.50% , 4.93– 13.39%, and 42.11-50.75 respectively. The result also revealed significant (P<0.05) differences in daily weight gain, with the highest value recorded in T7 (66.33g) followed by T4 which had 58.80 g/head/day in grazing trial, significant (P<0.05) differences were also observed in stall fed performance as Stylosanthes hamata with or without fertilizer recorded the highest weight gain of 115.71 g/head/day and 93.57 g/head/day T3 and T4 respectively. The highest feed intake was recorded in T4 (850.70 g/head/day) while T5 had the lowest (702.8g/head/day). Stylosanthes hamata with or without fertilizer also had significant influence on the weights gain of Yankasa rams. Introduction of legumes with or without fertilizer revealed superior fodder compare to application of inorganic fertilizer fed to Yankasa rams for improved performance. Further research using other legume varieties was recommend the use of Strip sown legumes with or without fertilizer type to rehabilitee range land