Value Added Abstract
Djoumessi Tobou France Gina
Abstract
In order to contribute to a better utilisation of Moringa oleifera grains and Pennisetum purpureum in guinea pig feeding, experimental trials were done in the Animal Production and Nutrition Research Unit, FASA in the University of Dschang in April 2018. In order to achieve this, 80 guinea pigs of English breed having an average weight of 350 ± 500 g were submitted to 03 diets containing 7% Moringa oleifera grains and a control diet without Moringa oleifera grains. The main results showed that the ingestion of composed granule feed was comparable (p>0.05) for all diets. The ingestion of crude cellulose and crude protein of the composed granule feed was comparable (p>0.05) in males and females whatever the diet considered. Regardless of sex, the ingestion of soaked Moringa oleifera grains improved feed intake (33.84 ± 0.79 and 52.13 ± 1,12 g DM/animal/day respectively). The ingestion of P. purpureum (24.84 ± 0.87 g DM/animal/day) was significantly higher with the diet containing M. oleifera grains soaked for 24 hours compared to the control diet. This study shows that composed granule feed with the inclusion of M. oleifera grains soaked for 24 hours increased the ingestion of crude protein. Determining the highest inclusion level of M. oleifera grains soaked for 24 hours, in guinea pig diets will be the future investigation.