Copra meal supplementation to improve the in vivo basal diet digestion in sheep

Abstract

This study was conducted from October 22, 2017 to November 12, 2017 at the experimental area of the animal science project of CAPSU Burias, Mambusao, Capiz with the general aim of finding the effect of copra meal supplement in improving the in vivo basal diet digestion in sheep. The study was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) having four (4) treatments and three (3) blocks. The treatment tested were; Treatment A – Basal diet only (control), Treatment B – 20% copra meal, Treatment C – 15% copra meal and Treatment D – 10% copra meal. All data gathered were transformed and subjected to Analysis of Variance using F test. Least Significant Difference (LSD) test was used to determine differences among treatment means. The result revealed that dry matter digestibility and percent dry matter digestibility were significantly affected by the varying levels of copra meal supplementation but not in dry matter intake, dry matter intake as % body weight, and weight gain. Furthermore, sheep supplemented with 20% copra meal gave the highest dry matter digestibility and percent dry matter digestibility, however it was statistically comparable with the sheep given the 15% and 10% copra meal supplement.