Faculty of Agriculture

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Browsing Faculty of Agriculture by Author "Amerit Catherine"

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    The effect of shea nut meal inclusion in diets of growing sheep on performance, rumen parameters and methane mitigation
    (Egerton University, 2024-09) Amerit Catherine
    Livestock agriculture provides more than 34% of proteins, other essential nutrients and services, and is an integral part of the livelihood to millions of people in the world. However, due to increasing population, the demand for animal protein is on the rise yet free-range farming barely sustains this demand. Intensive systems can resolve this challenge but are contested with inadequate feed, digestion inefficiencies, food & environmental safety concerns. This study assessed shea nut meals (Vitalleria paradoxa) potential as an alternative protein source for sheep diets. Varying levels of shea nut meal (SNM) at: 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% were supplemented in diets of fifteen (15) female growing sheep aged 5 months and weighing 25±0.8 kg. The sheep were grouped in five, with 3 replicates (n=3) in a completely randomized design (CRD), and were fed basal diets of 70% Rhodes grass hay (RGH) and 30% maize bran (MB). Data was analyzed for proximate, dry matter intake (DMI), apparent nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation parameters (pH, ammonia nitrogen concentration, volatile fatty acids, acetate: propionate ratio & protozoa count), average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), cost of feed/kg gain, in vitro gas production, in vitro organic matter digestibility, (IVOMD) and % methane reduction using the general linear model of SAS version 9.0 (2002) and means separated using the least significance difference (LSD). Shea nut meal (p<0.05) increased NDF, ADF, CP, EE and ME in diets. Dry matter intake was improved at 5% but was not significantly different (p>0.05) from 0% diet. Nutrient digestibility was (p<0.05) improved for 5% and 10%. Average daily gain and feed conversion ratio were (p<0.05) improved in all SNM diets. The cost of feed/kg gain was (p<0.05) lowered with increased SNM inclusion in the diets. The sheep fed SNM diets had a higher pH range of (6.4-6.9) compared to 0% (5.5-6.8). Rumen ammonia nitrogen concentration, total volatile fatty acids concentrations and protozoa counts were lower in sheep fed SNM diets compared to 0%. However, the acetate: propionate ratio was improved for sheep that were on SNM diets. The 24-hour in vitro gas production and organic matter digestibility were improved for 5% but declined with increasing SNM inclusion. Methane in total gas reduced with SNM increasing inclusion in the diets with the maximum reduction recorded at 20%. It was concluded that at 10% SNM inclusion had the best results and SNM is a moderate nutrient source as it modulated the rumen, improved nutrient digestibility, enhanced growth and reduced methane production.