Effect of Spondias mombin on Intake and Digestibility in West African Dwarf Sheep Fed Graded Level of Whole Cassava Root Meal Based Diet

The supplementing of Spondias mombin instead of concentrate mixture diets
and its effect on feed intake body weight change and digestibility was investigated
using sixteen West African Dwarf Sheep in a completely randomized design
experiment. The diets used were 100% concentrate (Diet 1; control), 75%
concentrate plus 25% Spondias mombin (Diet 2), 50% concentrate plus 50%
Spondias mombin (Diet 3) and 25% concentrate plus 75% Spondias mombin
(Diet 4). Dry matter intake was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in sheep fed concentrate
diet plus Spondias mombin (Diets 2, 3 and 4) than those fed concentrate
alone (Diet 1, control). The highest dry matter intake was exhibited by sheep fed
50% concentrate plus 50% Spondias mombin. Sheep fed concentrates plus
Spondias mombin exhibited a superior daily weight gain to those fed concentrates
only. Live weight gain was not significantly (P > 0.05) different between diets 3
and 4. However, a significant (P < 0.05) difference existed among diets 3 and 4,
and the other two dietary treatments. Feed conversion (feed/gain ratio) was significantly
higher (P > 0.05) in animals fed diets 3 and 4 than those diets 1 and 2.
Nutrient digestibility was not significantly (P > 0.05) influenced by dietary
treatments. In conclusion, the intake and digestibility of nutrients by West African
Dwarf were best when up to 50% and above of Spondias mombin was included
in the diet. Therefore an indication that Spondias mombin could provide
the needed nutrients for sheep especially during the dry season when feed resources
are scarce