Digestibility in vivo of Three Pellets based from Green Fodders, Products and by-products of Maize to the Grasscutter (Thryonomys Swinderianus) in Benin

Abstract

The study for evaluation purpose in vivo digestibility of three types of pellets based on green fodders, products and by-products maize and other food ingredients in the grasscutters. 24 grasscutters aged 7 months were used and divided into three groups of 8 animals. Grasscutter individually installed into digestibility cages were fed with three experimental feed pellets. During this test the average food consumption are varied to 44.24 ± 2.04 g at 65.17 ± 2.78 g. The apparent digestive utilisation coefficient in percentage for dry matter was 85.24 ± 0.01 for the pellet 1.79.84 ± 0.01 for pellet 2 and 84.05 ± 0.01 for the pellet 3. The digestibility of crude protein was valued at 92.53 ± 0.08% for the pellet 1, 85.03 ± 0.06% for the pellet 2 and 88.67 ± 0.02% for the pellet 3. The apparent digestive utilisation coefficient of the crude fiber was 78.94 ± 0.13%, 74.09 ± 0.12% and 75.48 ± 0.23 % respectively for the pellet 1, pellet 2 and pellet 3. A significant difference was observed between the apparent digestive utilisation coefficient of dry matter, crude protein and crude fiber for the three pellets (p<0.05). The pellet 1 is most digested by grass-cutters.