Nutrient digestibility, performance and serum metabolite assay of sheep fed silage supplemented with shrimp waste

This study aims to estimate the nutrient digestibility, performance and serum metabolites of sheep fed guinea grass silage supplemented with shrimp waste meal (SWM). A total of sixteen West African Dwarf male sheep of 18 months old, with average weight of 20.25±0.08 kg were randomly assigned according to weight into four treatments, with four sheep per treatment in a completely randomized design, (T1 – 100% silage + 0% SWM, T2 – 95% silage + 5% SWM, T3 – 90% silage + 10% SWM and T4 – 85% silage + 15% SWM). Data on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and serum metabolites were taken. Analysis of variance at p<0.05 was used for data analysis and Duncan Multiple Range Test for mean separation. There was a significant decrease (p<0.05) in the crude protein digestibility (90.02%) at 15% inclusion of shrimp waste. Total weight gain and total feed intake were higher in sheep fed 10% of SWM compared to others. Higher total protein, albumin and urea were observed in sheep fed diet with 0% SWM and 10% SWM. It was concluded from this study that growth performance, digestibility and serum metabolites were best and without any adverse effect, when silage was supplemented with shrimp waste at 10% inclusion.