Effect of Yucca schidigera saponin on the nutritive value of urea-ammoniated maize stover and its feeding value when supplemented with forage legume (Calliandra calothyrsus) for goats

Effect of Yucca schedigera saponin on DMI, daily protein and metabolizable energy intakes and apparent nutrient digestibility coefficients of urea-ammoniated maize stover diets supplemented with Calliandra calothyrsus leaves was investigated. The treatments were T1-UMS (72 g kg−1 urea treated maize stover without Y. schidigera powder); T2-UMS/YP1 (72 g kg−1 urea+90 mg kg−1Y. schidigera powder); T3-UMS/YP2 (72 g kg−1 urea+120 mg kg−1Y. schidigera powder), and T4-UMS/YP3 (72 g kg−1 urea+160 mg kg−1Y. schidigera powder). CP contents of the treated maize stover were 15.4, 16.6, 17.6 and 20.7% for UMS, UMS/YP1, UMS/YP2 and UMS/YP3, respectively. The recovery of urea-N as ammonia-N bound to maize stover after treatment was 51.8; 60.6; 66.3 and 84.0% for UMS, UMS/YP1, UMS/YP2 and UMS/YP3, respectively. Proportions of each treated maize stover and leaves of Calliandra (C) were mixed to obtain four dietary treatments. Four, Anglo-Nubian × Fiji local goats, initial body weight (BW) of 26.9±3.4 kg and 2-3 years old were allotted to the four dietary treatments in a randomized 4×4 Latin square design. DMI improved with subsequent increase in the level of Y. schidigera powder in the diets. Body weight change of goats on Y. schidigera powder based diets improved significantly (P<0.05) above the goat in the control diet. Digestible crude protein and daily protein intake of goats were 10.16, 11.06, 11.54 and 14.24 g kg−1 DM (DCP) and 7.84, 8.78, 9.62 and 11.90 g kg−1 W0.75/day, respectively, for T1-T4. Digestible energy (DE) and metabolizable energy (ME) intake were 7.87, 9.87, 10.38 and 10.54 MJ/kg DM and 6.45, 8.09, 8.51 and 8.64 MJ/kg DM for T1-T4, respectively. Apparent nutrient digestibility coefficients of DM, CP, CF, OM and energy were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the Yucca powder based diets than in the control diet. In conclusion, the data on DMI, body weight change, daily protein and metabolizable energy intakes; and apparent digestibility of CP, OM and energy demonstrated that Yucca schidigera saponin has the potential to entrap ammonia-N and improve the feeding value of low quality roughages supplemented with leaves of forage legume.