title: Sweet potato and Green panic as sole fodder for stall-fed lactating White Fulani cows and growing calves.
abstract: Three sweet potato varieties (TIS-87/ 0087; TIS-8164; TIS-2532.OP.1.13) and Green panic (Panicum maximum) were evaluated for forage quality in a completely randomized design (CRD) using 12 sole-fed lactating White Fulani cows for 21 days, and 12 growing White Fulani and White Fulani x Brown Swiss calves for 77 days. Dry matter intake of cows ranged (p<0.05) between 131 g/Wkg(0.734) in TIS-87/0087 and 152 g/Wkg(0.734) in TIS-8164. Daily milk yields increased (p<0.05) in TIS-87/0087 (2%) and TIS-8164 (5%), but decreased in TIS-2532.OP.1.13 (5%) and Green panic (19%). Mean (+/-SEM) milk total solids (13.16+/-0.05 g/100 g), ash (0.78+/-0.01 g/100 g), protein (3.79+/-0.07 g/100 g), fat (3.98+/-0.06 g/100 g), and lactose (4.62+/-0.14 g/100 g) were significantly different (p<0.05) among treatments. The White Fulani x Brown Swiss calves recorded about 10, 25 and 29% higher birthweight, milk intake and bodyweight gains respectively, but about 3% lower dry matter intake than the purebred White Fulani calves. The rumen degradation rates were similar (p>0.05), while the rest rumen dry matter degradation characteristics were lowest (p< 0.05) for Green panic. Sweet potato forage could be used as sole feed or supplement for dry-season Green panic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science and Fisheries, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, PMB 5323 Port Harcourt, Nigeria. i.etela@uniport.edu.ng
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Etela
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bamikole
authors.forename: U J
authors.initials: UJ
authors.lastname: Ikhatua
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Kalio
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000254:growth & development; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D027723:Ipomoea batatas; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology*; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008897:Panicum; D011897:Random Allocation; D012621:Seasons; D015430:Weight Gain