International Journal of Life Science and Agriculture Research

This experiment sought to assess the digestibility of various nutrients and the haematological responses of West African dwarf (WAD) rams fed silages containing varying levels of cabbage waste (CBW), wheat offal (WO), dried cassava waste (DCSW) and brewers’ spent grain (BSG). Silage 1 (CBW0) = 0 % CBW + 20 % WO + 30 % DCSW + 50 % BSG; Silage 2 (CBW5) = 5 % CBW + 15 % WO + 30 % DCSW + 50 % BSG and Silage 3 (CBW10) = 10 % CBW + 10 % WO + 30 % DCSW + 50 % BSG. Nine WAD rams averaging 18.5±2.3 kg, were divided into three treatment groups in a completely randomized design and fed the silages for 56 days. At the 9th week, the rams were placed on metabolic cages for digestibility studies. Blood samples were also obtained for haematological studies. Results revealed significant differences (p<0.05) in the digestibility (%) of nutrients, with dry matter (45.85 – 51.38), crude fiber (61.74 – 77.63) and ether extract (24.82 – 34.67) digestibility being highest by WAD rams fed CBW0 silage. Among the cabbage wastes treated groups (CBW5 and CBW10), rams fed Treatment 2 (CBW5) recorded higher crude protein (58.29 %), ether extract (27.85 %) and nitrogen free extract (52.78 %) digestibilities. There were also significant differences (p<0.05) in the nitrogen intake, absorbed and retained by the rams, with rams on diet 1 without cabbage waste (CBW0) recording highest values in nitrogen balance (2,66 g/d) and retention (42.04 %). Among the cabbage waste treated groups, rams on CBW5 had higher values for nitrogen intake (6.33 g/d), absorbed nitrogen (4.05 g/d), nitrogen balance (2.58 g/d) and percentage nitrogen retention (40.74 %) indicating better protein utilization. Haematological parameters (packed cell volume, haemoglobin, red blod cell, white blood cell, lymphocytes, neutrophils, monocytes, eosinophil, basophils, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration) differed significantly (p<0.05) across treatments, but were all within range that did not affect the normal physiological functions of the rams. Thus, rams can be fed other agro-industrial by-products without cabbage waste for maximal dry matter, crude fiber and ether extract digestibility. Additionally rams can be fed up to 5 % cabbage waste with no deleterious effect on digestibility, nitrogen retention and haematological indices.

Agricultural waste, cabbage waste, silage, nutrients digestibility, nitrogen retention, haematology.

1. Adeyemi, K. D., Kayode, A. I., Omole, A. J., Adebayo, O. A. and Taiwo, O. A. (2017). The nutritive value of wheat offal and its effects on the performance of livestock. Journal of Animal Science. 95(3): 1204-1211.
2. Ahaotu, E. O and Ifut, O. J. (2018). Consequences of heat tolerance in West African dwarf sheep. Livestock Research International. 06 (1):01 - 07. www.jakraya.com/journal/iri.
3. Albuquerque, D. M., Lopes, J. B., Klein-Junior, M. H., Merval, R. R., Silva, F. E. and Teixeira, M. P. (2011). Resíduodesidratado de cervejaria para suínosemterminação. ArquivoBrasileiro de MedicinaVeterinária e Zootecnia.63:465-472.
4. Amuda, A. J. and Okunlola, D. O. (2018). Haematological parameters and serum biochemistry of West African dwarf Sheep fed ensiled maize stover and concentrate supplements. 10SR Journal Science of Agriculture and Veterinary. 11 (5.1):57-63
5. Andressa, F., Zambom, M. A., Castagnara, D. D., Avila, A. S., Fernandes, T., Eckstein, E. I., Anschau, F. A. and Schneider, C. R. (2017). Use of dried brewers’ grains instead of soybean meal to feed lactating cows. Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia. 46(1):39-46.
6. Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) International. (2019). Official Methods of Analysis (21st ed.). AOAC International.
7. Banerjee, G. C. (2007). A Textbook of Animal Husbandry 8th Edition. Published by Raju Primlani for Oxford and IBJ publishing Co. PVT. Ltd., New Delhi. Pp 1079.
8. Binuomote, R. T. and Babayemi, O. J. (2017). Haematological parameters and serum biochemistry of West African Dwarf Sheep fed ensiled cassava tops and Guinea grass mixture. Academic Research Journals of Agricultural Science and Research 5(2): 146-155.
9. Bohn, A. A., Feldman, B. F. and Koplitz, M.  (2020). Veterinary Hemostasis and Thrombosis (1st ed.). Wiley-Blackwell. Pp. 1-320.
10. Daramola, J. O., Adelaye, A. A., Fatoba, T. A. and Soladoye, A. Ο. (2005). Haematological and biochemical parameters of West African dwarf goats. Livestock Research for Rural Development. 17 (8): Art. #95.
11. Dewhurst, R. J., Scollan, N. D., Lee, M. R. F., Ougham, H. J. and Humphreys, M. O. (2019). Nutritional value of cabbage waste for ruminants. Animal Feed Science and Technology. 259: 114342.
12. Ekanem, N. J., Okah, U. Ahamefule, F. O., Ifut, O. J., Ikwunze, K., Udoh, E. F., Edet, H. A. and Orok, A. M. (2020). Effect of method of preservation on the chemical composition of Enterolobium cyclocarpum leaves. Nigerian Journal of Animal Production. 47(1):246 – 256.
13. Ekanem, N. J., Olorunnisomo, O. A., Ikwunze, K., Mbaba, E. N. and Ifut, O. J. (2017). pH, fermentation pathways and physical characteristics of cassava peels supplemented and ensiled with brewers’ dried grains and poultry litter. Nigerian Journal of Agriculture, Food and Environment. 13 (3): 7 – 10.
14. Ekanem, N. J., Unah, U. L., Mbaba, E. N. and Udoh, E. F. (2023). Influence of dietary Enterolobium cyclocarpum leaves on nutrient digestibility and nitrogen utilization by West African Dwarf bucks. In: Etim O. Effiong, Godwin N. Udom, Mfon T. Udo, Daniel E. Jacob, Olajide O. Opeyemi, Leonard I. Akpheokhai, Unyime R. Etuk, Blessing J. Oribhabor, Jessie E. Udoh, Yetunde A. Alozie and Ime O. Udo (Eds). A Specialised Compendium on a Sustainable Approach to Ecological and Agricultural Development in Nigeria. 4(1): 138 – 145.
15. Feldman, B. F., Zinkl, J. G. and Jain, N. C. (2015). Schalm's Veterinary Hematology (6th ed.). Wiley Blackwell. doi:978-0-8138-2414-7.
16. González-García, E., Otero, J. C., Vázquez, M. A. and Alonso, A. A. (2011). Utilization of agro-industrial by-products in animal feeding: A review. Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research. 9(2): 447-463.
17. Jain, N. C. (2015). Essentials of Veterinary Hematology (2nd ed.). Wiley Blackwell. doi:978-0-8138-2415-4.
18. Kaneko, J. J., Harvey, J. W. and Bruss, M. L. (2008). Clinical Biochemistry of Domestic Animals (6th ed.). Academic Press. Pp. 1-928.
19. Kung Jr., L., Shaver, R. D., Grant, R. J. and Schmidt, R. J. (2018). Silage review: Interpretation of chemical, microbial, and organoleptic components of silages. Journal of Dairy Science. 101 (5): 4020 – 4033. 
20. Lee, S. M., Kim, H. J., Choi, S. H., Park, J. H., and Lee, S. C. (2000). Effects of brewers' spent grains-based diets on haematological parameters in rams. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 52(3): 553-560. doi:10.1007/11250-019-02133-6.
21. Ma, Y., Hebert, J. R., Li, W., Bertone-Johnson, E. R., Olendzki, B., Pagoto, S. L., Tinker, L., Rosal, M. C., Ockene, I. S., Ockene, J. K., and Griffith, J. A. (2008). Association between dietary fiber and markers of systemic inflammation in the Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study, Nutrition 24, 941–949.
22. McDonald, P., Edwards, R. A., Greenhalgh, J. F. D., and Morgan, C. (2011). Animal Nutrition. 7th Edition, Longman Scientific & Technical.
23. Merck Manual. (2018). The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy (20th ed.). Merck & Co.
24. Mervat, A., Elwy, A., Amlan, K. and Muhammad, A. (2019). Use of brewers’ dried grains as an unconventional feed ingredient in the diet of ruminants. Journal of Animal Nutrition. 7(3):218-224.
25. Mitruka, B. M. and Rawnsley, H. M. (1977). Clinical Biochemical and Haematological reference values in normal experimental animals. Masson Publishing, New York.
26. Ndlovu, P., Mlambo, V. and Mnisi, C. M. (2020). The role of dietary fiber in ruminant nutrition. Livestock Science, 232: 103917.
27. Nurfeta, A. and Abebe, A. (2018). Effects of ensiling wheat straw with molasses and urea on feed intake, growth performance, and nutrient digestibility in lambs. Tropical Animal Health and Production. 50(3): 617-624. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-017-1472-9.
28. Obua, B. E. (2005). Forage conservation in Nigeria. Concave Publications, Owerri, Nigeria.
29. Okeke, G. C., Ekenyem, B. U., Onyimonyi, A. E. and Ogunjimi, S. T. (2018). Cassava peels as a feed supplement for sheep: A review. Journal of Animal Science and Technology. 60(2): 1-9. doi: 10.1186/40781-018-0175-3.
30. Radostits, O. M., Gay, C. C., Hinchcliff, K. W. and Constable, P. D. (2007). Veterinary medicine: A textbook of the diseases of cattle, horses, sheep, goats, and pigs. Elsevier. 
31. Ramprabhu, R., Chellapandian, M., Balachandran, S., and Rajeswar, J. J. (2010). Influence of age and sex on blood parameters of Kanni goat in Tamil Nadu. Indian Journal of Small Ruminant. 16: 84 – 89. 
32. Singh, J., Kumar, A. and Hassan, H. A. (2018). Inclusion rate of cassava peels in sheep diets. Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology. 18(3): 537-544.
33. Smith, B. P., Magdesian, K. G., and Villar, D. (2015). Large animal internal medicine (5th ed., pp. 1-1520). Elsevier.
34. Tahir, M. N., Khan, M. S. and Ahmad, S. (2017). Effect of different feed sources on haematological parameters in rams. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition. 101(4): 831-838. doi:10.1111/jpn.12634.
35. Thrall, M. A., Weiser, G. and Allison, R. W. (2012). Veterinary hematology and clinical chemistry (2nd  ed.), Wiley-Blackwell. Pp. 1-528.   
36. Unah, U. L., Inyang, U. A., Jack, A. A., Ekanem, N. J., Ekpo, K. O., Mbaba, E. N., Isonguyo, E. N., Udoumoh, A. I. and Etukakpan, E. A. (2025) Silage characteristics, composition and growth performance of WAD rams fed cabbage waste ensiled with other feedingstuffs. International Journal of Life Science and Agriculture Research. 04 (11): 665 - 674. DOI: https://doi.org/10.55677/ijlsar/V04I11Y2025-05
37. Wanga, D. and Abera, Z. (2020). Cyanogenic potential in sorghum silage and its implications for livestock health. Tropical Animal Health and Production. 52(1): 60-69.
38. Weiss, D. J., and Wardrop, K. J. (2010). Schalm's veterinary hematology. Wiley-Blackwell.