PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS AND RUMEN MICROBIAL POPULATION OF WEST AFRICAN DWARF SHEEP FED ENZYME SUPPLEMENTED DIETS

Abstract

A 56-day trial was conducted to determine the effect of exogenous fibrolytic enzyme on growth per-
formance and rumen microbial population of West African dwarf sheep. Sixteen growing ewe were
randomly subjected to four dietary treatments with four animals per treatment in a completely random-
ized design. A total mixed ration was formulated with enzyme included at four levels: 0, 0.2, 0.4 and
0.6 g/kg feed. Performance characteristics and rumen microbial population of the animals were deter-
mined. Enzyme additive significantly influenced (P<0.05) weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion
ratio. The highest values for total weight gain, and total feed intake were obtained at 0.6g/kg enzyme
inclusion level. The feed conversion ratio (12.63) was however lowest (P<0.05) at 0.4g/kg enzyme
inclusion. The total bacteria and total fungi counts were also significantly (P<0.05) affected by the
dietary treatments. The highest bacteria (4.73×106 cfu/ml) and fungi counts (3.27×106 cfu/ml) were
obtained at 0.6g/kg enzyme inclusion level but these values were not significantly different from what
was obtained at that of 0.4g/kg enzyme inclusion. Protozoa count was not significantly (P>0.05) af-
fected by the dietary treatments. A total of eight bacteria were isolated in the rumen of the animals. It
is therefore concluded that the enzyme additive improved the performance and microbial count of
sheep when added at 0.4g/kg feed.