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Feeding Values of Mixtures of Grass with Some Processed Nitrogen Fixing Multipurpose Tree Species at Varying Proportions

Ojo, Victoria O. A.¹*, Folorunso, K. O.¹, Adeyemi, T. A.², Ogidan, Faith O. ¹, Oyedemi, O. I.¹ and Dada, F. I.¹

¹Department of Pasture and Range Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta P. M. B. 2240, Ogun State, Nigeria
²Agri-Food Business Management Program, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Estonia

Malaysian J. Anim. Sci. 2023 26(2): 8-14

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The nutritive value of mixtures of Megathyrsus maximus (MM) and leaf protein concentrates of Albizia lebbeck (AL) and Leucaena leucocephala (LL) the nitrogen-fixing multipurpose tree species (NFTS) were evaluated in this study. The treatment consists of M. maximus and each of the multipurpose tree species leaf protein concentrates ? MM100, MM90:AL10, MM80:AL20, MM70:AL30, MM90:LL10, MM80:LL20 and MM70:LL30 respectively. Results revealed an increase (P<0.05) in CP with an increase in leaf protein concentrate inclusion while there was a decline (P<0.05) in NDF contents of the mixtures with a decrease in grass inclusion. The highest 
CP values (P<0.05) were recorded in treatment MM85:AL15 and MM85:LL15 respectively and the lowest value of CP was recorded in MM100. The highest significant (P<0.05) value of NDF was recorded for MM100 while treatments MM90:LL10 and MM100 had the highest values of ADF. The DMD values of all the mixtures of the grass and leaf protein concentrates had higher (P<0.05) values compared with sole grass (MM100) which recorded the least value. Treatment MM85:LL15 had the highest significant (P<0.05) mean value of OM. The DMI, RFV and CC were significantly (P<0.05) higher in treatments MM85:AL15, MM90:LL10 and M85:LL15 respectively. The study concluded that nutrients and digestibility of mixtures of grass and leaf protein concentrates of NFTS investigated were higher than in the sole grass with mixtures of M. maximus 85: A. lebbeck 15 and M. maximus 85: L. leucocephala 15 having the highest nutritive value