Intake and Digestibility of <em>Calopogonium mucunoides</em>-Based Diets Fed to Draft Donkeys during the Dry Season

Abstract

During the dry season in semiarid regions, animals are maintained on low quality forage residues with a need for protein supplement, when animal productivity is to be considered. In this study, Calopogonium mucunoides hay was fed to donkeys during the dry season to test its palatability and nutritive value. Twelve adult donkeys were allotted to three groups and fed different rations as follows: Group A received corn straw and 0.5 kg supplement mixture (corn bran and cottonseed cake), Group B received Calopogonium mucunoides hay and 0.25 kg supplement mixture, and Group C received Calopogonium mucunoides hay and 0.5 kg supplement mixture. Forage and water intake, body weight, and fecal dry matter were measured. There was no significant difference in intake of the three rations but digestibility was significantly higher (P < 0.001) in the C. mucunoides-fed groups. Notwithstanding its low palatability or acceptability by livestock species, C. mucunoides, as forage legume, is a high crude protein source which could effectively replace agro-industrial protein supplements, which are becoming more difficult to find by smallholders

Keywords

• Ane
• Animal de trait
• Calopogonium mucunoides
• Protéine brute
• Appétibilité
• Digestibilité
• Valeur nutritive
• Cameroun