EFFECT OF DIETS MIXED WITH SOYABEAN OIL AND PALM KERNEL OIL ON RUMEN FERMENTATION GASES AND MICRO-FLORA OF WEST AFRICAN DWARF SHEEP

Abstract

The efficacy of palm kernel oil and soya bean oil was assessed in modulating rumen fermentation of West African Dwarf Sheep (WAD).Sixteen (16) West African Dwarf Sheep weighing 12.50±0.5kg were randomly allotted into four dietary treatments in a completely randomized design. The experiment lasted for 16weeks. Mixtures of palm kernel oil (PKO) and soya bean oil (SBO) were incorporated into the diets of sheep at 0:0g/day, 10:5g/day, 7.5:7.5g/day and 5:10g/day as treatments 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively. The results showed that the rumen fluid pH ranged from 5.60- 6.50 which was not significantly influenced by the dietary treatments. The rumen fluid temperature ranged from (36.25-37.00ºC, propionic acids (6.05-6.84) and Valeric acids (6.08-7.56) which were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by addition of palm kernel oil (PKO) and soya bean oil (SBO) to the diets of sheep. The protozoan count recorded in this trial decreased from T1 to T4. Treatment 4 recorded the least amount of protozoan count of 1.34 × 106 cfu/ml which was significantly affected by plant oils included into diets of sheep. The fungi count (4.05-8.13 × 106 cfu/ml was significantly different across the treatments. It was therefore concluded from this study that the diets mixed with palm kernel oil (PKO) and soya bean oil (SBO) at 5:10g/day improved the total volatile fatty acids (Acetic, Propionate and Butyrate ) which can be subsequently used as energy, with reduced protozoan population