ABDQUADRI-ABOJUKORO NAIMOT ADERONKE

Agriculture

At the Agriculture department office

Appointment on Visitation important

Topic: Silage Improvement Using Medicinal Plants And Plant Extracts

Description:

Harnessing the Bioactive Properties of Selected Medicinal Plants to Enhance Fermentation Efficiency, Digestibility and Voluntary Feed Intake in Ruminants, to achieve improve animal growth 

#	Certificate	School	Year
1.	Ph.D (ANIMAL SCIENCE)	UNIVERSITY OF KWAZULU-NATAL, PIETERMARITZBURG, SOUTH AFRICA	2021

Effect of medicinal plant extracts on feed intake, nutrient utilization, rumen fermentation parameters and methanogenesis inhibition in South Africa merino sheep

This study evaluated selected medicinal plant extracts to improve feed intake, digestibility, growth, and nitrogen utilization while reducing ruminal methane emission in sheep fed poor-quality veld hay (Themeda triandra), supplemented with Lucerne hay and maize mix. Two trials were conducted. In trial one, 36 ewes were randomly assigned to six treatments: four ethanolic plant extracts (C. japonica, C. papaya, P. americana, C. illinoinensis), monensin, and a control. This trial measured feed intake, growth, ruminal pH, NH3-N, and methane and hydrogen gas concentration. In trial two, 12 sheep were assigned to the same six treatments in a planned crossover design over three periods. All animals received Themeda triandra hay ad-libitum, plus a supplement of Lucerne and maize mix. Treatment groups received a mash containing either specific amounts of plant extract or monensin.The plant extracts significantly influenced total dry matter and organic matter intake. All extracts significantly increased final bodyweight, total weight gain, feed efficiency, and total dry matter intake relative to body weight (p < 0.05). Conversely, ruminal pH, NH3-N, hydrogen gas, and apparent digestibility of organic matter, crude protein, and fiber did not differ (p > 0.05). C. illinoinensis and monensin reduced headspace methane concentration. Monensin and all plant extracts except C. japonica significantly reduced dissolved methane in rumen fluid (p < 0.05).The extracts did not impair feed digestibility; C. papaya slightly improved apparent digestibility compared to the control and monensin. All investigated plant extracts show promise, with C. illinoinensis being the most effective for mitigating ruminant methane emissions. It can replace monensin without adversely affecting animal performance. Since no adverse effects occurred, further investigation into the effects of different amounts is recommended to enhance methane mitigation, digestibility, and performance.

ABDQUADRI-ABOJUKORO ADERONKE is a Lecturer II at the Department of Agriculture

ABDQUADRI-ABOJUKORO has a Ph.D in ANIMAL SCIENCE from UNIVERSITY OF KWAZULU-NATAL, PIETERMARITZBURG, SOUTH AFRICA