 | Abstract 645COMPARATIVE RUMEN DEGRADABILITY OF FORAGES, BROWSE, CROP RESIDUES AND AGRICULTURAL BY-PRODUCTSO B Smith, O A Idowu, V O Asaolu and O Odunlami Department of Animal Science, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria Livestock Research for Rural Development 1991 3(2): 59-66. In situ degradability experiments with forages, browse, crop residues and by-products in cattle, sheep and goats were carried out to assess nutritional value and potential use as feed. The 48hr dry matter degradability data suggest that many items available in large amounts in humid tropical Africa could be used as supplements to dry season forages of low nutritive value. Degradability ranged from medium for Leucaena and Gliricidia (68%), winged bean forage (65%) and green corn stover (68%) to high for cassava leaves (84%), cowpea husk (74%), foofoo residue (78%), plantain peels (74%), maize bran (81%), cassava peels (83%), yam peels (86%) and sweet potato peels (95%). Values for browse, crop residues and by-products were higher than those for 5 dry season forages (mean of 56%) and underline their potential nutritive value. This abstract relates to the following species:
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