PREFERENCE OF NAPIER GRASS, TITHONIA (Tithonia diversifolia) AND SAPIUM (Sapium ellipticum) AND THEIR NUTRITIVE CONTENT AS FORAGES FOR SHEEP IN KENYA

Abstract

There is limited information on preference of tithonia (Tithonia diversifolia) and sapium (Sapium ellipticum) as forages for sheep in Kenya. This study compared the preference of napier grass, tithonia and sapium as forages for sheep. It had five (one and half year old male sheep) selected on the basis of uniformity in live weight, averaging 23 kg. The sheep were housed in individual pens (metabolic unit), measuring 1.5m x1.5m x2.0m and mounted on the concrete floor at Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation, Embu. The feeding period lasted for 10 days. Data were collected and recorded for 5 days. A sample of each offered and refused experimental diet was collected and recorded for 5 days and oven-dried for determination of moisture content, crude protein, ash content, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber and acid detergent lignin. The neutral detergent fibre levels for wilted napier grass, tithonia and sapium fodder were 80.1%, 33.57% and 39.52%, respectively. The acid detergent fiber levels for napier wilted grass, tithonia and sapium hay were 43.58%, 27.98% and 22.4%, respectively. The acid detergent lignin levels for the napier grass, tithonia and sapium were 6.12%, 11.3% and 8.87%, respectively. Napier grass, sapium and tithonia forages were preferred by the sheep in this order, with an average daily intake in kg/DM of 0.26, 0.11 and 0.18, respectively. Knowing preference of the forages could assist in their utilization in improvement of sheep nutrition and productivity.