Rumen Metabolities of Bovine Fed Cassava Peels in a Humid Tropical Environment

Twelve young white Fulani bulls with average live weight of 97kg and age 40 weeks were used to determine rumen metabolites of bovine feed cassava peel in a 3 x 4 factional treatment for a complet e randomized design experiment. Three diets containing increasing percentage of cassava peels (0, 20 and 40 percent) in sun-dried form were offered ad-libitum to the experimental animals. Feed intake and body weight changes were measured. Samples of rumen liquor was taken through a rumen tube using a vacuum pump at 0, 0.5, 1.5 and 2.5h after feeding. The pH, total volatile fatty acid, rumen ammonia-nitrogen and osmolality were determined. The average daily intake of total dry matter was highest in diet T (20%) on the 2 10 day of feeding. However treatment had no significant effect (p > 0.05) on mean average daily intake level. When their average daily intake was adjusted to their respective metabolic body weights (Kg BW ) those 0.075 2 in rumen fluid increased for all level of cassava peel inclusion and was affected by time after feeding (p < 0.05) with highest value occurring at 1.5h inclusion level of cassava peel. At 40% level of inclusion caused a decrease in rumen NH -N concentration when sampled at 1.5h. Knowledge of pH and osmolality may 3 benefit the animal through improvement of acid base status. Inclusion of cassava peels in the diet of cattle up to 20% or slightly above 30% is recommended since it gave better NH -N accumulation in the rumen after 3 ingestion.